*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 7552.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov DA 01- 686 Released: March 16, 2001 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT REGARDING INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM APPLICATIONS USING DEDICATED SHORT RANGE COMMUNICATIONS Comment Date: : April 16, 2001 Reply Date: : May 1, 2001 The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) seeks information regarding current, emerging and potential Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) applications that use Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC). The Bureau is seeking this information to assist it in developing the licensing and service rules that will apply to DSRC- based ITS applications. By way of background, in 1999, the Commission allocated the 5. 850- 5.925 GHz band for use by DSRC systems operating in the ITS radio service. 1 The Commission noted that ITS services are expected to improve traveler safety, decrease traffic congestion, facilitate the reduction of air pollution, and help to conserve vital fossil fuels. ITS applications include advanced traffic management systems, commercial vehicle operations, advanced traveler information systems, commercial and advanced vehicle communications systems. While many ITS communications requirements are being met within the framework of existing telecommunications systems, the Commission found a need for additional spectrum for reliable short- range wireless communications links between vehicles traveling at highway speeds and roadside systems, i. e., DSRC. The Commission adopted the basic technical rules for DSRC- based ITS operations, but deferred consideration of the licensing and service rules and spectrum channelization plans because the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) was developing standards addressing such matters. In October 2000, ITS America 2 issued a “Status Report on Licensing and Service Issues and Deployment Strategies for DSRC- based Intelligent Transportation Services in the 5. 850- 5.925 GHz Band” (Status Report). In the Status Report, ITS America examines the legal, technical, and economic issues of developing and deploying DSRC- based ITS services in the 5.850- 5.925 GHz band. Specifically, ITS America discusses industry consensus and deployment strategies, band channelization issues (including service definition, eligibility requirements, spectrum assignment methods, and construction requirements), and technical issues (including power limits, emission mask, frequency stability, and spectrum sharing and interference issues). The Bureau seeks comment on the Status Report. In addition, the Bureau seeks additional information regarding 1 Amendment of Parts 2 and 90 of the Commission’s Rules to Allocate the 5.850- 5.925 GHz Band to the Mobile Service for Dedicated Short Range Communications of Intelligent Transportation Services, Report and Order, ET Docket 98- 95, 14 FCC Rcd 18221 (1999). 2 ITS America is a Utilized Federal Advisory Committee to the DOT under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which includes representatives of the entire transportation industry, including business, academia, and federal, state, and municipal transportation industries. 1 current, emerging and potential DSRC- based ITS applications and services, including information regarding the status of standards development for ITS. Interested parties may file comments on or before April 16, 2001, and reply comments on or before May 1, 2001. Parties should refer to this Public Notice, including the DA number, in their submissions. All comments should be filed with the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street, S. W., TW- A325, Washington, D. C. 20554. A copy of each response also should be sent to International Transcription Services, Inc., 1231 20th Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. 20036, (202) 857- 3800, and to Nancy M. Zaczek, Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, Policy and Rules Branch, 445 Twelfth Street, S. W., Room 4- C330, Washington, D. C. 20554. As the Commission has not yet begun a rulemaking proceeding in this matter, this inquiry is exempt from the Commission’s ex parte rules, but all information will be available to the public unless confidential treatment is sought and granted. Copies of the Status Report and all responses to this Public Notice will be available for inspection and copying during regular business hours in the Reference Information Center (RIC) of the Consumer Information Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street, S. W., Room CY- A257, Washington, D. C. 20554. Copies may also be obtained from International Transcription Services, Inc. In addition, the Status Report is available at http:// www. fcc. gov/ e-file/ ecfs. html. For further information regarding the public reference file, please contact Maria Ringold, Chief, Wireless Branch, RIC, (202) 418- 1350. For further information, please contact Nancy M. Zaczek of the Policy and Rules Branch of the Public Safety and Private Wireless Division of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418- 7590, TTY (202) 418- 7233. By the Chief, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. –FCC– 2