ATSSA Signal March/April 2020

The Signal | March/April 2020 25 Innovation & Technical News FCC votes to reallocate part of 5.9 GHz band to WiFi Despite objections from several groups, including ATSSA, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is moving ahead with plans to reallocate a portion of the 5.9 GHz band to a 45 MHz sub-band that supports unlicensed uses like WiFi. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced the proposal on Nov. 20 during a meet - ing with Citizens Against Government Waste, New America’s Open Technol - ogy Institute, and WifiForward. The FCC’s five-member commissionvoted unanimously on Dec. 12 to “take a fresh and comprehensive look at the 5.9 GHz (5.850-5.925 GHz) band, proposing rule changes to ensure that this spectrum supports its highest and best use for the American people,” according to a FCC press release. The commission met Jan. 30 without taking action. People had until March 9 to submit comments and until April 6 to post replies, according to the FCC. ATSSA filed a statement March 2 saying it was “steadfastly opposed” to the change for “safety and security” concerns. Since Pai’s Nov. 20 announcement, numerous groups including the Depart - ment of Defense (DOD), the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), and ATSSA have spoken out against the proposal. “ATSSA is committed to reducing fatal - ities and serious injuries on U.S. road - ways and it’s critical to keep the 5.9 GHz spectrum band dedicated to transpor - tation safety to achieve those goals,” ATSSA Vice President of Government Relations Nathan Smith said. “We believe it ’s vital for the federal government to make this a top prior - ity,” he added. “We are only now on the cusp of broad deployment of connected and automated vehicle technology, and because of that, now is not the time to gamble with the safety of the Ameri - can public. If, as a nation, safety is our top priority, then let’s work together to make certain we put words into practice.” Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said in a Nov. 18 letter to Pai that “there are too many unknowns and the risks are far too great to federal operations” if Global Positioning System signals and other military systems were shifted to another proposed spectrum. “This could have a significant negative impact on military operations, both in peacetime and war. I, therefore, strongly oppose this license modifi - cation,” Esper wrote. ITS America President and CEO Shailen Bhatt also issued a statement oppos - ing the plan. “In a country that reels from nearly 36,000 roadway deaths every year, it is unfathomable that the United States would literally give away our top safety tool—and with it, our best chance to save tens of thousands of lives,” Bhatt stated. “The FCC is prepared to trade safer roads for more connectivity by giving away much of the 5.9GHz safety spec - trum, which allows vehicles to talk to each other and the infrastructure (V2X communications)—and it proposes to make such an inexplicable decision in the absence of data. The Commission is prepared to put not just drivers but pedestrians and other vulnerable users, particularly first responders and those in work zones, at grave risk—and for what? It comes down to priorities—we can save and protect people’s lives, or we can ensure its easier to place online orders fromour cars. The choice is clear —safety always wins.” In 1999, the FCC designated the 75 MHz spectrum in the band for Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC), which supports Connected and Auto - mated Vehicles (CAVs), Cellular Vehicle to Everything (C-V2X) technology, and a number of roadway safety infrastruc - ture devices.  For updates on the band reallocation, visit ATSSA’s blog at ATSSA.com/Blog-News. The Commission is prepared to put not just drivers but pedestrians and other vulnerable users, particularly first responders and those in work zones, at grave risk.