FCC Reportedly Wrapped Up Work on Long-Awaited C-V2X Waivers
Fourteen months after proponents of cellular-vehicle-to-everything use of the 5.9 GHz band asked the FCC for the first waivers so they could start to deploy (see 2112140070), action appears imminent. The FCC has drafted a waiver order, but it’s still at the NTIA for review, officials confirmed. Industry is also still waiting for final rules for the 5.9 GHz band.
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“Industry is disappointed that it has taken so long to get the C-V2X waivers granted,” said a lawyer active in the proceeding: “Companies are anxious to start rolling out these important safety services and have been waiting for over a year for the waivers that will let them do so. Industry is hopeful that the first of the waivers will be granted within the upcoming weeks.” The FCC declined comment Thursday.
Reports are growing of industry frustration over the FCC’s pace in approving final rules for the use of C-V2X in the 5.9 GHz band and the lack of action on waiver requests, Hogan Lovells’ Katy Milner said during a recent FCBA webinar. “Industry wants certainty and to be certain about their deployments and to know … what operating restrictions” will be in place, Milner said: “Both industry and Congress have urged the FCC to move quickly, at least on the waiver requests and on the final rules themselves.”
The auto industry has fully embraced C-V2X and “that wasn’t the case four years ago,” said John Kwant, consultant and former Ford executive. The auto industry, plus states and local governments, want to deploy the new technology, and “it’s just a matter of trying to get final rules in place, trying to get some of these waivers granted, so that we can move forward,” he said.
“It’s great if vehicles can talk to one another, but they’re going to be that much more efficient when they’re connected to infrastructure as well,” Kwant said. He also urged the FCC to finalize the waivers, noting “we’re now a year in and still waiting for the disposition of those waivers and want to get on with getting on.”
It’s not too surprising the waivers took a while to process, said Jeffrey Westling, American Action Forum director-technology and innovation policy. The FCC “needs to sort through a few technical details in the rules, and there were quite a few comments for the commission to navigate and consider,” he said. Westling noted the 5.9 GHz band has been a priority for FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “She likely wants to get this over the finish line as soon as possible as a prolonged review of the record will harm the deployment of new devices using these bands.”
In the most recent request, Continental Automotive Systems sought a waiver “to manufacture and facilitate deployment” of C-V2X. “It is critical that the Commission allows use of C-V2X technologies for commercial uses now so that deployment of life-saving and serious injury-saving automotive technologies is not unduly delayed,” Continental said in docket 19-138.
The PeopleForBikes Coalition, a group representing the bike industry, urged action, in a filing this week. “The record support for the C-V2X Joint Waiver Request is, essentially, unanimous to date,” the coalition said: “The automotive industry’s chief trade association, the primary association for public state transportation authorities, and multiple associations supporting intelligent transportation systems all have filed comments supporting a waiver grant now.”