Most Commenters Say FCC Should Grant 5.9 GHz Waiver Request
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials(AASHTO) raised concerns on a 5G Automotive Association waiver request to deploy cellular vehicle-to-everything technology (C-V2X) in the 5.9 GHz band's upper 20 MHz. The band is allocated to dedicated short-range communications. Comments were initially due Thursday at the FCC and some were posted Monday in docket 18-357. Most early commenters supported granting the waiver.
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"AASHTO seeks a more detailed description on how 5GAA intends to engage with state" transportation departments "in transitioning current and planned DSRC-based operations in Channels 182 and 184 to lower channels, or operate via C-V2X," the group said. It requested "clarification on whether the transition would occur before or after the grant of the waiver. The use of experimental licenses, together with local agreements defining the geographical region where the experimental deployment will occur to ensure minimal, or no, impact to existing DSRC deployments, seems to be a more logical approach at this stage of the new technology development."
But most other commenters said the FCC should approve the waiver request. “By allowing for both” C-V2X and DSRC “technology operations, the Commission will allow the automotive marketplace to select the preferred V2X technology,” American Honda Motor said. “This approach is consistent with the technology neutral position of the U.S. Department of Transportation.”
Widespread deployment of C-V2X “is a foregone conclusion, given the numerous benefits today and the capacity for the technology to evolve to enable benefits we cannot yet imagine,” said BMW of North America. “Allowing for C-V2X operations in a portion of the 5.9 GHz band will afford industry stakeholders the certainty necessary to increase investment and innovation in C-V2X. It also will level the playing field between C-V2X and DSRC,” Daimler said.
Ford also filed in support. “C-V2X will help unlock the full potential of self-driving technology by serving as an additional source of data about city infrastructure, traffic, construction, and emergency vehicles that will solve for some of the more challenging road interactions,” the automaker said.
“The testing results filed in the waiver petition demonstrate technology readiness to fulfill the vision of the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration to help improve road safety,” Intel said. “Approval of the waiver is consistent with Intel’s long standing support of technology neutrality, providing flexibility in the regulations to allow the market to decide the best technology.” C-V2X is “a modern V2X technology with an evolution path to 5G,” commented Jaguar Land Rover. “Ultimately, C-V2X may be able to deliver new and improved V2X services to vehicles and drivers.”
The Maryland DOT said the FCC should let companies keep their options open: “Including both DSRC and C-V2X would provide the most opportunities for safety benefits to be realized, and support efforts toward universal compatibility in all V2X communications.”