NCTA, ITS America at Odds on Wi-Fi in 5.9 GHz

The FCC has “broad authority” to change rules for dedicated short-range communications and modify DSRC roadside unit licenses in the 5.9 GHz band, NCTA representatives told Office of General Counsel staff. Title III of the Communications Act provides "expansive authority to change spectrum rules in the ‘public interest,’ and Section 316 gives the agency power to modify the small number of existing licenses for DSRC roadside units,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 19-138. More than 50 organizations oppose the FCC’s proposal to reallocate 45 MHz of the band to Wi-Fi, ITS America President Shailen Bhatt said during a webinar Thursday. More use of safety technologies would prevent the “vast majority” of 36,000 yearly U.S. highway deaths, he said. Vehicle-to-everything technologies “could significantly reduce the more than $800 billion in annual costs associated with traffic crashes,” he said: “V2X safety technologies fully utilize the 75 MHz in the 5.9 GHz spectrum band.” For V2X to work, “messages must travel quickly and without interference,” he said. The FCC hasn’t provided any evidence to show that V2X can safely share the band with Wi-Fi, he said. Commissioners may vote on revised rules in November (see 2010190040).