WISPA Counters Auto Industry Arguments on Broadband in 5.1 GHz Band
The Wireless Internet Service Providers Association urged the FCC to reject a petition from the Association of Global Automakers (AGA), which asked the agency to hold off on allowing the use of high-power, unlicensed “U-NII” devices in spectrum immediately adjacent to the 5.850-5.925 GHz band. As one of the policy calls in a March 31 order, the FCC extended the upper limit of the 5725-5825 MHz U-NII-3 band to 5850 MHz (http://fcc.us/XffL9d). The Wi-Fi Alliance and the Telecommunications Industry Association also weighed in against the AGA petition.
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The auto industry plans to use the spectrum for dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) systems designed to help drivers avoid accidents (CD Jan 16/13 p1). In February, following extensive testing, the U.S. Department of Transportation indicated it was moving forward on vehicle-to-vehicle warning systems as “the next generation of auto safety improvements (http://1.usa.gov/1bkqG1L).
In a May petition, AGA sought lab tests and additional studies before the FCC opens the spectrum for unlicensed use (http://bit.ly/1nWKyxg): “DSRC operations have been in development for years,” AGA said. “The developers of these critical public safety networks reasonably relied on prior FCC spectrum decisions in making those investments."
The FCC “correctly determined” that licensed operations in the 5850-5925 MHz band “will be unaffected by adding 25 MHz to the upper edge of the U-NII-3 band,” WISPA said (http://bit.ly/1vRBrHX). WISPA said there’s no history of interference that should raise concerns for automakers. While DSRC licensees may have taken 15 years and spent millions of dollars to develop technology, “WISPs, cable companies, utilities and consumer product manufacturers have spent billions of dollars inventing, manufacturing, deploying and enabling use of millions of unlicensed devices that people rely on every day,” WISPA said.
"The Commission cannot simply suspend its rules based on undocumented, theoretical interference purportedly stemming from a band that is already heavily used,” TIA said (http://bit.ly/VqMfw9). “Procedurally, the Automakers have provided no additional information or arguments, nor have they demonstrated any material error warranting reconsideration.” The petition “relies on arguments that have been fully considered and rejected by the Commission and should therefore be denied,” the Wi-Fi Alliance said (http://bit.ly/1t70EK0). All filings are in docket 13-49.