The battle over connected cars drags on
The FCC is facing a new lawsuit over its move last year to rework the spectrum and technology dedicated to connected cars. The action helps crystalize the ongoing debate over how exactly automobiles should communicate with each other and with roadside infrastructure like stoplights and crosswalks.
It’s also an important issue for companies in the 5G industry considering many – including stalwarts like Qualcomm – are hoping to provide some of the technology that would power future connected cars.
The latest development on this topic comes from the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), two transportation advocacy groups. As reported by Reuters, they filed a legal challenge in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in an attempt to reverse the FCC’s recent changes to the 5.9GHz spectrum band for connected cars.
A boon to unlicensed spectrum users
Late last year, in the waning days of the Trump administration, the FCC voted to take away around 60% of the spectrum for the connected car industry and instead use it for unlicensed operations. The move received cheers from the Wi-Fi industry, but a number of transportation officials, lawmakers, carmakers and others said the action would make it more difficult for connected car applications to work.
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