FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION September 30, 2013 Mignon L. Clyburn Acting Chairwoman The Honorable Thomas E. Petri Chairman Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure U.S. House of Representatives B-376 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Chairman Petri: Thank you for your letter expressing concern about the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaldng to revise Part 15 of the Commission's rules to permit Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) devices in the 5 GHz band. Your views are very important and will be included in the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review. As you are aware, the Commission currently licenses Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) systems operating in the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) radio service in the 5.85-5.925 GHz band. Under Commission rules, licensed users generally are protected from harmful interference by other users of a band. In this case, users of Part 15 devices must not cause harmful interference to the licensed services in the 5 GHz band. We understand that an extensive amount of research and investment has gone into developing the DSRC, and in evaluating the 5 GHz band for viable sharing scenarios. Before making any determination regarding the rules in this band, the Commission intends to thoroughly review NTIA's current and future interference analyses between DSRC systems and U-NII devices, as well as all other submissions. The staff is reviewing the extensive record that has been compiled in order to determine how best to address the technical and other issues raised in this proceeding. The sooner we solve these issues, the sooner American innovation can show leadership in developing this band for unlicensed services. I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, 445 121h Street S. W. Washington, D.C. 20554 (202) 418-1000 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION September 30, 2013 Mignon L. Clyburn Acting Chairwoman The Honorable Peter A. DeFazio Ranking Member Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure U.S. House of Representatives B-376 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman DeFazio: Thank you for your letter expressing concern about the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise Part 15 of the Commission's rules to permit Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) devices in the 5 GHz band. Your views are very important and will be included in the record of the proceeding and considered as part ofthe Commission's revtew. As you are aware, the Commission currently licenses Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) systems operating in the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) radio service in the 5.85-5.925 GHz band. Under Commission rules, licensed users generally are protected from harmful interference by other users of a band. In this case, users of Part 15 devices must not cause harmful interference to the licensed services in the 5 GHz band. We understand that an extensive amount of research and investment has gone into developing the DSRC, and in evaluating the 5 GHz band for viable sharing scenarios. Before making any determination regarding the rules in this band, the Commission intends to thoroughly review NTIA's current and future interference analyses between DSRC systems and U-NII devices, as well as all other submissions. The staff is reviewing the extensive record that has been compiled in order to determine how best to address the technical and other issues raised in this proceeding. The sooner we solve these issues, the sooner American innovation can show leadership in developing this band for unlicensed services. I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know ifl can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, 445 12'h Street S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 (202) 418-1000