A group of bipartisan lawmakers recently sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) supporting transportation stakeholders having the authority to operate Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology in the 5.9 GHz radio frequency band.
The FCC ordered the use of C-V2X intelligent transportation systems (ITS) safety technology in the 5.895-5.925 GHz band in 2020. The agency said it would utilize waiver authority to accommodate demand for near-term C-V2X deployments while rules were being developed.
Stakeholders are seeking waivers to operate the technology prior to the adoption of final rules. The C-V2X Joint Waiver Request seeks to permit automakers, state departments of transportation, and equipment manufacturers to initiate broad deployment.
The Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New York City and Ohio Departments of Transportation
have filed waiver requests.
The lawmakers urge the FCC to quickly act on the requests because deployment of C-V2X is critical to improving transportation safety.
“C-V2X technology can address our mounting roadway safety crisis,” the letter said. “Motor vehicle crashes killed an estimated 42,915 people in the U.S. in 2021, a 10.5 percent increase from the previous year.”
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure chairman; Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure ranking member; Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Subcommittee on Highways and Transit chairwoman; and Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL), Subcommittee on Highways and Transit ranking member signed the letter.