O'Rielly, Rosenworcel Say Best Approach for 5.9 GHz Band Is a Broad NPRM
A waiver proposed by the 5G Automotive Association to use part of the 5.9 GHz band for cellular vehicle-to-everything technology in the upper 20 MHz of the band may not have the votes needed to move forward. FCC Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel, who have sought action on 5.9 GHz, said in news conferences after Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting they instead support a broad-based Further NPRM.
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The band is allocated to dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) technology, which automakers have been slow to deploy. The commission has been looking at sharing with Wi-Fi since 2013 (see 1301160063). The FCC sought comment on the 5GAA waiver request, which faced broad disagreement (see 1902110007) in the initial comment round.
A “broad-based” NPRM “is the best way to go,” Rosenworcel said. “Time is not our friend here. We’ve been waiting for a very long time for vehicular services in this band. Wi-Fi interests have also been waiting.”
“I have been supportive of looking at this issue in a broader sense,” O’Rielly said. “I don’t think it’s something you look at in a very narrow sense.” DSRC is “an outdated technology,” he said.
Chairman Ajit Pai said after the commissioners’ meeting he's working with staff on the best approach, but 5.9 GHz isn’t an “easy issue.” 5GAA didn’t comment.
“This appears to point to an NPRM seeking comment on enabling unlicensed service in the 5.9 GHz band,” said Claude Aiken, Wireless ISP Association president. "Redesignating this band for unlicensed use would be a boost for both urban Wi-Fi and rural broadband.”
“Long before 5GAA’s attempt to conduct a beauty contest that goes against the grain of modern spectrum management, Commissioners O’Rielly and Rosenworcel have been consistently calling for a fresh look at how the 75-megahertz band is allocated,” emailed Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America. “After 20 years of sitting vacant, the reality is the 5.9 GHz ‘car band’ is a roadblock on a potential Wi-Fi superhighway. We’ll never get those gigabit-fast Wi-Fi channels that consumers and businesses need unless the commission rethinks how to relocate the safety-signaling spectrum so that it can be better integrated with 5G connected car applications.”