FCC Seeks Comment on 5GAA Waiver Request for 5.9 GHz Band

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology sought comment Thursday on a waiver request by the 5G Automotive Association to deploy cellular vehicle-to-everything technology (C-V2X) in the upper 20 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band. The band is allocated to dedicated short-range communications. In October, an NCTA-led coalition urged the FCC to take a fresh look (see 1810160061). Chairman Ajit Pai is expected to do that (see 1811140061). Technology companies led by Qualcomm and automakers led by Ford put increasing focus on C-V2X as an alternative to DSRC (see 1803140055). The OET notice asks more narrowly for comment on the 5GAA petition. “5GAA claims that operating C-V2X in this band is consistent with the purpose and policy of allocating the 5.9 GHz band for short-range Intelligent Transportation System services, with ‘significant performance advantages ... when measured against DSRC,’” OET said in docket 18-357. “5GAA proposes conditions applicable to all operations under its requested waiver that it claims would ‘ensure that C-V2X will not have any larger potential for interference than DSRC operations currently permitted under the FCC Rules.’” Comments are due Jan. 11, replies Jan. 28. Michael Calabrese, director of New America's Wireless Future Program, told us the FCC shouldn’t rewrite the rules for the band by waiver. “We agree with Commissioners [Mike] O’Rielly and [Jessica] Rosenworcel that it is time for a broader rulemaking that takes a fresh look at how much spectrum is required for auto safety and whether that allocation should be in this band or somewhere else,” Calabrese said. “Times have changed. The 5.9 GHz band is a roadblock in the middle of the potential Wi-Fi superhighway that is needed to make America’s 5G wireless ecosystem the most accessible and affordable.” C-2VX “represents the next evolution in connected car technology and the first step towards leveraging 5G to increase safety on America’s roads,” said Sean Conway of Wilkinson Barker, counsel to 5GAA. “While industry stakeholders continue to discuss proposals for modernizing the rules for connected car technologies, this waiver request initiates the process by which the FCC can grant approval for near-term deployments.”