FCC ADOPTS RULES FOR INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT OPERATIONS AT 5.9 GHZ
Touting benefits for homeland security, the FCC adopted rules Wed. for systems that provide a short-range, wireless link for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). The service and licensing rules cover Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) at 5.9 GHz, including collision avoidance at intersections and electronic toll collection. The Transportation Dept. said the move would let research started in the mid-1990s continue, in part by freeing dedicated spectrum. Meanwhile, the FCC deferred a decision on a coordination issue involving the fixed satellite service until negotiations between govt. and industry conclude.
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These systems have used unlicensed spectrum at 900 MHz, which is crowded with consumer devices such as garage door openers and baby monitors, a DoT official said. “The FCC’s decision will help advance big improvements in transportation safety. This new radio spectrum will help prevent crashes, bring important real-time information into cars and let drivers concentrate on driving,” said Transportation Secy. Norman Mineta. DSRC works at very short ranges -- under 100 yards -- and can be used for communication between vehicles and a roadside terminal or between vehicles that are close together, DoT said.
The Commission last fall offered rules for 5850-5925 MHz for DSRC in ITS systems, proposing to allow entities providing public safety operations to use that band and to apply Part 90 licensing rules for public safety agencies. It had allocated the spectrum for ITS services based on DSRC in 1999. In comments this year, the Public Safety Wireless Network urged the FCC to restrict access to “traditional” emergency responders to avoid overcrowding this band. DoT, however, advocated that some commercial applications be allowed in the band to drive technology applications on which public safety users could “piggyback.” The rules adopted Wed. largely adopted the Commission’s tentative conclusions from 2002, including that 5.9 GHz should be used mainly for public safety purposes and that public safety would benefit from limited sharing with other uses. The FCC said both public safety and non-public safety users would be eligible for licensing on all channels.
The FCC said the rules also: (1) Opted for open eligibility for licensing to encourage intensive use of the band and spur innovative service development. (2) Adopted for IT'S A standard developed by the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) and the DoT’s Federal Highway Administration. That standard provides a way of standardizing access to 5.9 GHz, which is seen as enabling national interoperability of ITS systems. (3) Adopted a geographic area licensing regime in which licensees would receive non-exclusive geographic area licenses authorizing operation on 70 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band.
(4) Stipulated that DSRC operations in the band must coordinate frequencies through NTIA to avoid interference with govt. operations. (5) Deferred resolution of the prior coordination issue between DSRC and FSS until ITS America and the satellite industry reach an agreement. The FCC urged them to agree as quickly as possible given the public safety implications of the band. SIA previously told the FCC that service rules in this band should consider the co-primary uplink operations of FSS earth stations in both the 5.9 GHz band and the adjacent band from 5925-6425 MHz. The group argued widespread deployment of DSRC stations could limit where FSS earth stations can be located because of the potential for harmful interference.
ITS America expressed optimism Wed. that a band-sharing protocol and guidelines could be “developed in the near future.” The group said the rules help the ITS industry pursue a goal of zero highway fatalities and delays.
SIA Pres. Richard DalBello said the group was awaiting the full order’s release but the FCC seemed to have adopted licensing rules in line with the spectrum sharing regime under discussion between the satellite industry and ITS America: “We appreciate the FCC’s willingness to let the interested parties work toward a mutually beneficial solution to this problem. The satellite industry is committed to working diligently and rapidly on this issue.”
“The potential of dedicated short range communications services is enormous,” said FCC Chmn. Powell. He said he was optimistic that the rules would pave the way for wide-scale, interoperable deployment of these systems in “the near future.” Powell noted that the study acknowledged ongoing discussions among NTIA, DoT, SIA and ITS America on potential interference to current and future operations in and around 5.9 GHz. “The Commission has deferred a decision on the matter until the ongoing technical studies and industry discussions are completed,” he said. “Given the importance of public safety applications in the DSRC, I urge the parties to conclude their discussions to ensure that the ASTM-DSRC standard will provide reliable and robust operations.”