FCC to Split Tech Spectrum

The Federal Communications Commission decided in November to divide the spectrum block allotted to vehicle safety, bending to demands from cable, telecom and content companies who want to expand their Wi-Fi services.

The 5.9 GHz spectrum band had been reserved since 1999 for use by automakers and technology companies to develop dedicated short-range communications to connect vehicles with other vehicles and “smart” infrastructure.

Few companies made use of the spectrum, though. Reuters reported that the technology has been offered on just one General Motors Co. vehicle.

So the FCC plans to move the upper 30 megahertz from DSRC to a different vehicle-communications technology called Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything.

The remaining 45 megahertz will be allocated to wireless use.

“The move is not surprising, given the FCC’s statements about the spectrum in question,” said Mike Sayre, AMA government relations director. “But the AMA, automakers and the U.S. Department of Transportation think this will ultimately hurt road safety technology.”

Smart technology holds the potential for reducing the number of vehicle crashes.

Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications can regulate traffic flow, alert riders and drivers to road hazards and even slow or brake connected vehicles to avoid danger.

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao warned that the FCC decision could result in “thousands more deaths annually on the road and millions more injuries than would be the case otherwise.”

GM said “the FCC has moved towards jeopardizing roadway safety.”

V2V and V2I technology differs from driver-assist systems and autonomous vehicles. V2V and V2I do not involve hands-free driving or driverless vehicles. The systems provide data exchanges that can alert vehicle operators to road conditions and the positions of other nearby vehicles.