The FCC is getting oppositions (see 2011030053) on draft rules, set for a commissioner vote next week, allowing Wi-Fi to share 45 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band. Filings were posted Monday in docket 19-138. Facebook opposes exclusion zones there. The proposal relies on “profoundly flawed analysis of federal radar operations authorized in the 5.9 GHz band -- an analysis whose assumptions about Wi-Fi operation are both inaccurate and inconsistent with the Commission’s own assumptions in the 6 GHz Order,” Facebook said: “Because the NTIA analysis did not appear in the record until very recently (Oct. 23rd), the parties have not yet had a meaningful opportunity to study and respond.” The order would “cement in place” cellular vehicle-to-everything “as the presumptive technology standard for all future automotive communications technologies,” Continental Automotive Systems said. “Because in many cases licenses to the technology at the core of C-V2X cellular standards are not directly available to many automotive industry participants in the supply chain, or if so are often subject to unreasonable terms, the exclusive use proposal generates the potential for patent holders to abuse and distort the market for the next-generation of automotive communications,” Continental said: “The Commission should have a full understanding of the consequences to the automotive supply chain in this regard.” The company spoke with Office of Engineering and Technology and Office of Economics and Analytics staff.

The FCC’s draft 5.9 GHz order doesn’t “provide sufficient certainty” for cellular vehicle-to-everything to launch quickly, 5G Automotive Alliance members warned. ‘Provide C-V2X access to the 5.9 GHz band as soon as possible,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 19-138: “The draft ruling proposes a lengthy, potentially indefinite ‘transition period’ for C-V2X operations. This transition poses significant constraints in bringing this safety technology to American travelers.” Immediately allow C-V2X roadside unit operations in the upper 30 MHz of the band reserved for C-V2X, the companies said. Ford Motor Company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US, BMW Group, Daimler North America, T-Mobile, Nokia and Qualcomm were among the members signing the letter. Qualcomm has made similar arguments (see 2011050048). The FCC is to vote on the order Nov. 18.

The FCC’s draft 5.9 GHz order won’t give industry immediate use of 30 MHz of the band proposed for cellular vehicle-to-everything technologies, Qualcomm warned in a call with an aide to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. “C-V2X is ready to be deployed across America today and therefore needs the spectrum now,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 19-138. “Ford and other automakers want to sell cars equipped with highly advanced C-V2X technology, and state and local transportation agencies are ready to install CV2X roadside units."

Voxx introduced an intelligent battery-backup system for automotive, marine, motorcycle and powersport applications, enabling consumers to jump-start a vehicle from the driver's seat without jumper cables or roadside assistance. Voxx Power Systems, designed to be installed in a vehicle's trunk, cabin or under the seat, connects directly to the battery, continually charging via a custom battery charger circuit and automotive-grade components that charge only when the vehicle's engine is running, said the company Tuesday. The system is controlled via smartphone over Bluetooth. If a phone isn’t available, a “jump” button is available on the physical unit. The line will include multiple form factors, the company said.

Dialog Semiconductor's DA7280 high-definition haptics driver is being used by Alps Alpine with its linear resonant actuators for interactive experiences in vehicles, Dialog said Wednesday. This addresses a growing trend in the automotive industry for dynamic control panels that use haptics for immediate driver feedback, it said. The combination creates a vibrational force that's said to be 10 times that generated by smartphones.

The FCC has “broad authority” to change rules for dedicated short-range communications and modify DSRC roadside unit licenses in the 5.9 GHz band, NCTA representatives told Office of General Counsel staff. Title III of the Communications Act provides "expansive authority to change spectrum rules in the ‘public interest,’ and Section 316 gives the agency power to modify the small number of existing licenses for DSRC roadside units,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 19-138. More than 50 organizations oppose the FCC’s proposal to reallocate 45 MHz of the band to Wi-Fi, ITS America President Shailen Bhatt said during a webinar Thursday. More use of safety technologies would prevent the “vast majority” of 36,000 yearly U.S. highway deaths, he said. Vehicle-to-everything technologies “could significantly reduce the more than $800 billion in annual costs associated with traffic crashes,” he said: “V2X safety technologies fully utilize the 75 MHz in the 5.9 GHz spectrum band.” For V2X to work, “messages must travel quickly and without interference,” he said. The FCC hasn’t provided any evidence to show that V2X can safely share the band with Wi-Fi, he said. Commissioners may vote on revised rules in November (see 2010190040).

SiriusXM is a standard feature in all BMW models sold in the U.S. beginning in model year 2021, said SiriusXM Wednesday. This extends the companies’ relationship through 2026 and also includes all Rolls-Royce models and BMW motorcycles. SiriusXM will be standard in Mini vehicles starting with 2022 models. BMW owners will receive a 12-month subscription to SiriusXM's All Access package with purchase or lease of a new vehicle.

The 5.9 GHz band should be reallocated for vehicle-to-everything communications, with no allocation for Wi-Fi, argued a Panasonic white paper filed at the FCC. The commission is expected to consider the band in November (see 2009090058). “Reallocating 45 megahertz of 5.9 GHz spectrum for unlicensed use" would require forgoing "the significant safety benefits associated with next-generation V2X applications,” said the paper, written by Wiley. “Sensor sharing messaging (aka cooperative perception messaging) would require at least an additional 20 megahertz,” it said: “Likewise, maneuver coordination messaging would require at least an additional 20 megahertz, and truck platooning 10 megahertz more. It is mathematically impossible to support these life-saving V2X applications, in addition to the Basic Safety Message, in only 30 megahertz of spectrum.” The paper was posted Wednesday in docket 19-138.

Two former transportation secretaries under President Barack Obama, Ray LaHood and Anthony Foxx, agree connected vehicle technologies will make the roadways safer, they told an ITS America webinar Monday. The FCC is expected to approve reallocating part of the 5.9 GHz band as early as next month (see 2009090058). “We’ve got to maintain and make use of the broadband that’s been reserved” for safety “and make sure that we work harder to accelerate the use of connections,” Foxx said. “You hit the nail on the head around reserving the full safety spectrum,” said ITS America President Shailen Bhatt. Studies show vehicle-to-vehicle communications “would save lives and prevent accidents,” LaHood said. Today “it has almost become standard equipment that cars are talking to one another and talking to the people that are driving the cars,” he said. LaHood’s message as secretary was that every day, people get into a vehicle and don’t think about safety, he said: “That was our job at DOT, to think about safety in every mode of transportation.” Foxx said pilot automated vehicle projects DOT did in New York City, Tampa and rural Wyoming while he was secretary provided useful data: “We wanted to look at what kinds of improvements can occur in different environments.”

FCC technical rules for 5.9 GHz should focus on protecting vehicle-to-everything and other safety-critical intelligent transportation system messages, NCTA said in an FCC filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-138. Don't "consider non-safety-critical ITS applications, or another round of promised future ITS applications that history suggests will never emerge,” the group said. “Static analyses based on hypothetical corner cases are not useful in assessing the real world impact of adjacent-band Wi-Fi.” Commissioners are expected to consider an order as early as October (see 2009090058).