Tech, auto groups reach detente on wireless frequency testing

Auto industry and telecommunications groups announced they had reached an understanding about how federal agencies should test ways for wireless devices and connected cars to share certain wireless spectrum. Tech companies would like to use a frequency currently set aside for the technology such as Wi-Fi in vehicles. In a pair of letters sent to federal agencies, lawmakers and business representatives encouraged the federal government to pursue testing methods that would allow the two industries to share the space while following certain principles. The groups and lawmakers said the federal agencies “should examine all reasonable options and mechanisms for sharing in the 5.9 [gigahertz] band for the avoidance of harmful interference from unlicensed to authorized users and licensees in the 5.9 GHz band.”

They said testing should be completed by the end of 2016. Under the proposed principles, the FCC would lead testing on the risk of interference related to sharing the spectrum. The Department of Transportation would take the lead on testing specific technology. When possible, the lawmakers and groups said, “results and underlying data from any testing of 5.9 GHz unlicensed sharing proposals to be considered by the FCC should be made available to the public by placing such information in the FCC’s open docket; the data and results from tests of DSRC systems cited in comments filed with the FCC or conducted previously using federal funds and resources should also be published, where feasible.”