DOT Moving Forward on Vehicle-to-Vehicle Crash Avoidance Systems in Spectrum Also Targeted for Wi-Fi
The U.S. Department of Transportation said it will move forward on vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) crash avoidance systems that operate in the 5.850-5.925 GHz band, which is also being targeted by the FCC for Wi-Fi. The Monday move was not a surprise, since the spectrum had previously been dedicated by the FCC for use by V2V systems, industry sources said Monday. Last year, in remarks to CES, then Chairman Julius Genachowski suggested the spectrum could also be used for Wi-Fi on a secondary basis. Automotive industry officials told us soon after that pronouncement that they were deeply concerned about the proposal (CD Jan 16 p1).
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"Vehicle-to-vehicle technology represents the next generation of auto safety improvements, building on the life-saving achievements we've already seen with safety belts and air bags,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx (http://1.usa.gov/1bkqG1L). “By helping drivers avoid crashes, this technology will play a key role in improving the way people get where they need to go while ensuring that the U.S. remains the leader in the global automotive industry."
In comments filed at the FCC last year, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) urged caution on approving Wi-Fi in the band given the automotive industry’s longtime focus on V2V systems (CD July 29 p1).
ITS America President Scott Belcher said Monday he expects FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to put safety first as the agency evaluates Wi-Fi in the band (http://bit.ly/1dYJBz3). “While we are working closely with our partners in the Wi-Fi industry to explore the potential for spectrum sharing in the 5.9 GHz band, we are thrilled that Chairman Wheeler is outspoken in his commitment to putting safety first while we examine potential solutions,” he said. “With more than 30,000 deaths on our nation’s roads every year, it is critical that efforts to open up additional spectrum do not come at the expense of revolutionary life-saving technologies."
DOT is doing the “largest naturalistic test of connected vehicle technology in the world” in Ann Arbor, Mich., with dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) radios installed in nearly 3,000 cars, buses, trucks and motorcycle, ITS America noted.
Telecommunications Industry Association President Grant Seiffert said DOT’s decision is important. “Today’s announcement means that the V2V and Wi-Fi stakeholders can proceed to develop sharing technologies based on a firm understanding of the V2V transportation radios and technology companies that are looking to share the 5.9 GHz band to meet exploding Wi-Fi demand,” Seiffert said. “TIA is also pleased that, with this decision, the nearly 15 year development cycle for V2V technology is at an end. We look forward to working with the FCC and other federal agencies to determine how other low power unlicensed technologies such as Wi-Fi can share this radio spectrum."
"Not only does this mark the first use of radio technology that will make our driving experience safer, but it is also the first use of the Intelligent Transportation Service spectrum at 5.9 GHz that was set aside for these purposes nearly 15 years ago,” said Mary Brown, Cisco director-spectrum policy, Monday in a blog post (http://bit.ly/1cO1sx2). “Just as important, this is a victory for IEEE 802.11 technology. ITS radios utilize this (802.11) technology, creating a real opportunity for Wi-Fi sharing in the 5.9 GHz band, since the two technologies were born from the same standard."
"V2V crash avoidance technology has game-changing potential to significantly reduce the number of crashes, injuries and deaths on our nation’s roads,” said National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Acting Administrator David Friedman. “Decades from now, it’s likely we'll look back at this time period as one in which the historical arc of transportation safety considerably changed for the better, similar to the introduction of standards for seat belts, airbags, and electronic stability control technology.”