FCC Should Make 5.9 GHz Band Available for Wi-Fi Despite Auto Industry Concerns, Say O'Rielly and Rosenworcel

FCC Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel urged the FCC to move forward on rules opening 75 MHz of spectrum at 5850-5925 MHz for unlicensed use. Two years ago, then-Chairman Julius Genachowski unveiled a proposal at CES to make the spectrum available for Wi-Fi, but the proposal met with heavy opposition from the auto industry. Automakers objected because the FCC allocated the same band for Dedicated Short Range Communications Service (DSRC) systems intended to improve roadway safety in 1999 (see 1305310095). “We support the safety initiatives associated with DSRC, but are mindful that mobile opportunities are multiplying in ways never contemplated when this spectrum was set aside in 1999,” the two said in a blog post Monday. They said driverless cars were the stuff of science fiction when DSRC was approved. “New technologies are coming to market that support features like automatic braking and lane change warnings that use radar and other technologies not dependent on DSRC,” they said. “We should not strand our spectrum strategies in turn-of-the-millennium safety technologies when there are may be other more efficient ways to reach these same goals.”