Skip to main content

ITS America responds to FCC NPRM for spectrum sharing

Following the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking to open up additional spectrum for unlicenced wi-fi devices within the 5.9 GHz band which serves as the platform for connected vehicle technology, Scott Belcher, President and CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), issued the following statement today: “ITS America supports the need to explore spectrum sharing in the 5 GHz band and appreciates the chairman’s commitment to a pr
February 21, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Following the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking to open up additional spectrum for unlicenced wi-fi devices within the 5.9 GHz band which serves as the platform for connected vehicle technology, Scott Belcher, President and CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (560 ITS America), issued the following statement today:

“ITS America supports the need to explore spectrum sharing in the 5 GHz band and appreciates the chairman’s commitment to a process of consultation with the stakeholder community that will protect the integrity of connected vehicle technology. We also recognize the desire of the Commission to move forward expeditiously, while cautioning against putting near-term life-saving innovations like connected vehicle technology at risk in the pursuit of future wi-fi applications.”

ITS America was recently joined by other transportation stakeholders in raising concerns about the Commission’s 5.9 GHz proposal.  The letter, which is online here, is signed by groups ranging from 4939 AAA, the 2094 Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the 4946 Association of Global Automakers, 4944 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, American Public Transportation Association, and Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to numerous private companies and state and local DOT officials from Michigan, California, Florida, Texas, New York, Arizona and Washington State.

“We look forward to working with the Commission, the NTIA, US DOT, and other government and non-government stakeholders to evaluate whether and how unlicensed devices could operate safely in the band without interfering with new vehicle crash avoidance systems which depend on secure, reliable, real-time communication between vehicles.”

Related Content

  • ITS America’s latest report - vehicle electrification and the smart grid
    November 9, 2012
    The latest report from the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), entitled Vehicle Electrification and the Smart Grid - The Supporting Role of Safety and Mobility Services, is to be presented in a webinar hosted by Dr Kenneth Laberteaux, Senior Principal Research Scientist at Toyota Research Institute-North America. The webinar, entitled What’s Driving All This Driving? will be held on 15 November, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. Click here for more information and to register. The report is
  • US ushers in reforms with new transportation bill
    November 9, 2012
    On behalf of ITS America, Paul Feenstra maps out implications and opportunities for the ITS industry. A critical milestone was reached last month when the US Congress passed, and President Obama signed, legislation reauthorising the nation’s surface transportation programmes, breaking a nearly three-year log-jam which had stymied critical transportation reforms and delayed much-needed infrastructure projects. The law, numbered P.L. 112-141 but known as MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century),
  • Hani Mahmassani, ITS 'rock star' academic, passes away
    July 18, 2025
    Distinguished Northwestern professor was mentor to many practitioners
  • Cruise says it 'fell woefully short' in aftermath of October 2023 collision
    January 26, 2024
    Law firm report into reaction to AV incident in San Francisco finds 'mistakes in judgment'