Unlocking the full potential of autonomous transportation will require smart, forward-looking decisions about how to manage the spectrum on which driverless vehicles will rely. A recent announcement from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai shows the United States is preparing for a fully autonomous future. After months of debate, the FCC revealed next steps for re-allocating the 5.9 GHz band for both unlicensed uses and transportation-specific applications with an eye to autonomous fleet deployment.

In an effort to provide predictability for automakers and broadband providers, Chairman Pai announced that the FCC will vote this month on his proposal to initiate a process that would open up the 5.9 GHz spectrum band for new uses. By way of background, the agency first set aside spectrum in what is called the 5.9 GHz band to support transportation uses in 1999. Under current FCC rules, the 5.9 GHz band is reserved for dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), which facilitates both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications. Because DSRC has been around for three decades, some automakers and localities had begun to equip vehicles and roadside infrastructure with DSRC-based technologies. However, predictably, technology has advanced since 1999, resulting in several alternatives to DSRC, the most noteworthy being cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) communication that offers vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-pedestrian communication.

To address technological advancements and the underutilization of the 5.9 GHz band to date, Chairman Pai has proposed allocating the upper 20 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band for a new automotive communications technology, and specifically C-V2X, while saving the lower 45 MHz of the band for unlicensed uses like Wi-Fi. Additionally, the FCC will seek further public input on whether to allocate the remaining 10 MHz in the band to C-V2X or DSRC. The Commission will vote on this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking at the agency’s December 12 open meeting.

According to Pai, C-V2X would use standard cellular protocols to provide direct communications between autonomous vehicles and other vehicles on the road, in addition to infrastructure, cyclists, pedestrians and road workers. C-V2X is also expected to support new, advanced applications as cellular companies transition to faster, more responsive 5G networks. Opening the band to C-V2X it is backed by large automakers as well as wireless carriers and wired broadband providers, who support the proposal for its commitment both C-V2X and unlicensed.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) opposes the Chairman’s proposal to allocate spectrum for unlicensed uses in addition to transportation. Prior to this announcement, the FCC had held off on 5.9 GHZ spectrum rulemaking efforts at the request of DOT Secretary Elaine Chao. The transportation agency said in a statement that its position is unchanged. “The Department of Transportation has clearly stated in testimony and correspondence that the 75 MHz allocated in the 5.9 GHz, what we call the ‘Safety Band,’ must be preserved for transportation safety purposes,” a spokesperson said. The DOT is primarily concerned with unlicensed uses interfering with transportation communications, although there is not any conclusive research that settles the issue.

Unless serious opposition arises within the FCC or the DOT actively lobbies against Pai, the Chairman’s proposal to start the rulemaking process will likely pass. Next steps would involve evaluating comments from interested stakeholders and developing final rules on which the Commission would vote. Even if the final rules adopted by the FCC are similar to the Chairman’s current proposal, it will still take years for the auto industry to coalesce around and implement C-V2X. As such, consumers may not feel the practical implications of this decision for years and possibly decades. Nonetheless, carving out dedicated space for C-V2X will give the industry the assurance it needs to invest in an autonomous future.

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DoITT has been without permanent leadership since June, following a leadership shakeup that happened on the heels of an 11-day wireless network outage that impacted city agencies.

At the NYPD, Tisch implemented the largest police body-worn camera, smartphone and tablet programs in the world. Tisch also led the effort to use technology to transform the NYPD’s fundamental business processes, including how officers are dispatched and respond to 911 calls for service, take crime reports, investigate, and search for wanted or missing persons. She managed the development and implementation of NYPD’s Domain Awareness System, which powers the department’s counterterrorism and crime fighting operations.

In a statement, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that Tisch’s knowledge of complex systems and her ability to implement large scale programs would serve her well as New York City continues its efforts to upgrade legacy systems and implement new technology.

As DoITT Commissioner, Tisch will lead all aspects of the City’s delivery of IT services that touch every aspect of city life, from public safety to human services. She will also undertake a modernization of the City’s technology infrastructure.

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438 mayors belong to the group which is working to uphold the Paris Climate Agreement. 24 mayors will lead the new steering committee and will spotlight climate leadership exhibited in cities throughout the United States. The steering committee will also engage with the rest of the Climate Mayors to drive action at the municipal level and raise awareness of the myriad issues that arise from changes to the environment.

After President Trump announced his initial plans to withdraw the U.S. from the landmark Paris Agreement in June 2017, more than 300 mayors joined the Climate Mayors coalition and pledged to continue working toward the goals of the Agreement in their cities. The network has since grown to over 400 mayors, both Democrat and Republican, who represent cities ranging in size and region and show the overwhelming support for climate action among the majority of Americans.

Members of the steering committee represent coastal cities and cities that are further inland. Cities of all sizes are also represented within the committee. The membership recognizes the need for cities to lead on climate change regardless of what policies are enacted at the federal level in part because individuals interact most closely with their city government and it is often municipal leaders that are called upon to respond to disaster first.

“Cities across our country and around the world see the impacts of climate change firsthand — and we stand front and center in the fight to address this crisis with every tool at our disposal,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “No matter what happens on the national level, cities know we cannot afford any more debates or delays, so we will continue to act to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, protect our most vulnerable residents, strengthen global health, and create a green economy that works for everyone.”

The Climate Mayors announcement comes on the heels of an executive order issued earlier this week by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, creating a climate change subcabinet within the state government to coordinate a statewide response. The efforts highlight a growing awareness on the part of state and local officials that we are unlikely to see a comprehensive national response to extreme climate, which means cities and states will have to work from the bottom up.

Members of the Climate Mayors steering committee include:
Steve Adler (Austin, TX)
Ethan Berkowitz (Anchorage, AK)
Jim Brainard (Carmel, IN)
Michael Cahill (Beverly, MA)
Kirk Caldwell (Honolulu, HI)
LaToya Cantrell (New Orleans, LA)
Melvin Carter (Saint Paul, MN)
Jane Castor (Tampa, FL)
Frank Cownie (Des Moines, IA)
Bill de Blasio (New York City)
Mike Duggan (Detroit, MI)
Buddy Dyer (Orlando, FL)
Kevin Faulconer (San Diego, CA)
Greg Fischer (Louisville, KY)
Kate Gallego (Phoenix, AZ)
Michael Hancock (Denver, CO)
James Hovland (Edina, MN)
Eric Johnson (Dallas, TX)
Lioneld Jordan (Fayetteville, AR)
Tim Keller (Albuquerque, NM)
Ron Nirenberg (San Antonio, TX)
Bill Peduto (Pittsburgh, PA)
Satya Rhodes-Conway (Madison, WI)
Lucy Vinis (Eugene, OR)

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