WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission said spectrum in the 5.9 GHz band can be used for the intelligent transportation system.
“The FCC’s action carefully balances the need for spectrum flexibility with the statutory requirements for national interoperability. The commission’s decision is a major step which will initiate a robust nationwide deployment of ITS services for the delivery of various ITS public-safety applications,” said Neil Schuster, president and chief executive officer of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America.
ITS includes both devices in cars and stationary units used to help with traffic flow and safety.
“The FCC’s decision will help advance big improvements in transportation safety. This new radio spectrum will help prevent crashes, bring important real-time information into cars and let drivers concentrate on driving,” said Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta.
Some ITS technology uses currently available spectrum in the 900 MHz unlicensed band for toll-lane authorizations, such as E-Z Pass along the eastern corridor, which allows users to wirelessly and electronically pay toll amounts.
It is hoped as ITS is further developed that traffic will flow better and lives will be saved.
“It is always exciting when technology touches lives and even more so when technology saves lives,” said FCC Chairman Michael Powell.
ITS America said the FCC’s rules would allow products and services to be deployed that could further the “zero fatalities/zero delays,” which commits ITS America to abandon the current acceptable levels of highway fatalities, injuries, and delays.
While it might be a decade or more before the full ITS vision is realized because it requires devices to be embedded in vehicles, car and truck buyers in the 2007 model year should see some ITS systems in place. “The kinds of applications wouldn’t require every car to have the technology for the system to begin,” said Jeff Paniati, associate administrator for operations at the Federal Highway Administration. “If you have the technology, you can take advantage of the technology.”
There are no plans at this time to mandate the technology, said Paniati, noting the market should develop without government intervention. “Our preference is not to mandate ITS but to find a way to make this happen.”
