Cisco Cites Progress in Initial Test To Permit 5.9 GHz Sharing With Automakers

Cisco reported some progress in industry efforts to allow sharing of the 5850-5925 MHz band between unlicensed wireless users and automaker incumbents. Cisco updated FCC officials last week on its "proof of concept testing" to detect dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) devices that automakers are planning to deploy in the spectrum. "Cisco noted that its technology has been reliably able to listen for DSRC signals at a -95dBm level, which is the first step in ensuring that unlicensed users of the bands can detect DSRC," Cisco said in an ex parte filing posted Monday in FCC docket 13-49. "Lab work is proceeding to demonstrate that unlicensed use can be stopped when DSRC signals are present." Cisco said it believes "personal portable devices would likely require on-board mitigation capabilities."