Auto Interests Push Further 5.9 GHz Tests; NCTA, Wi-Fi Group Seek FCC Unlicensed Action

NCTA and the Wi-Fi Alliance said initial tests showed 5.9 GHz sharing is feasible and urged the commission to pursue efforts to allow unlicensed use. "Issue a Further [NPRM] proposing to open the band to unlicensed operations," advised NCTA. Chairman Ajit Pai is expected relatively soon to circulate an FNPRM seeking comment (see 1811140061). Other commissioners see a need to act (see 1810230038).

Automakers and others said the phase I tests were inconclusive, with suggestions unlicensed devices could interfere with DSRC operations. OET found "both sharing proposals (detect and vacate and re-channelization) are able ... to successfully detect a DSRC signal and implement post detection steps as initially proposed," but it noted that was "in a controlled laboratory environment," said the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. The group said OET found "re-channelization affords a higher probability of transmission to DSRC devices during co-channel operation," and potential interference risks "during adjacent channel operation for both sharing proposals." While OET didn't draw conclusions about whether either proposal can reliably avoid harmful interference to DSRC, "it does present empirical evidence of such interference" from re-channelization, said Toyota.

Lab testing provided "useful information about the potential for sharing between DSRC and [unlicensed] operations ..., particularly as regards 'Detect-and-Vacate,'" said the Association of Global Automakers. "Only the real-world testing planned for Phases II and III can provide the data necessary." There must be testing of "live vehicle conditions with more complex traffic environments," said the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association. "Testing should be completed before any unlicensed use," said General Motors. "The full 5.9 GHz safety band should be dedicated to vehicle safety technologies with the potential to help prevent a large part of the 37,133 deaths on the roadways last year."

Vehicular communications stakeholders disputed their 5.9 GHz efforts were failing. "Board members Toyota and General Motors have made landmark commitments to the deployment of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) DSRC-equipped vehicles," said the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. It noted a recent 5G Automotive Association waiver petition to use cellular V2X. "The Commission’s statement accompanying the release of the test results referring to 'the limited deployment of DSRC in discrete circumstances,' is notably inaccurate," said the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, citing state and local efforts. "The 'notion' that deployments are 'limited' and the follow-on implication that now is an easy time to change 5.9 GHz radio safety technologies, is false," said Cisco. "The DSRC market is developing rapidly." Many in the docket supported such efforts, backing more testing.

NCTA said the phase I test "success" cleared the way for pursuing unlicensed use. The report shows "Wi-Fi devices can avoid harmful interference with DSRC devices in adjacent channels," the cable group said. "Regardless of whether the 5.9 GHz band is ultimately the right home for automotive-safety operations, this key finding supports any effort by the Commission to propose a band segmentation approach that would designate a portion of the band for Wi-Fi and a portion for DSRC or future Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies." The Wi-Fi Alliance said "opening this band would offer up to 75 megahertz of extremely desirable spectrum for future Wi-Fi technologies."

Wi-Fi at 5.9 GHz could contribute up to $100 billion annually to the U.S. economy, providing up to an additional $190 billion in economic surplus, Rand reported. “Decisions made regarding the allocation of this frequency band could set a precedent for future unlicensed spectrum policymaking, especially in the context of higher millimeter wave frequencies.”