FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
September 7,2016
The Honorable Richard Blumenthal
United States Senate
706 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Blumenthal:
Thank you for your letter sharing your concerns about consumers' safety and privacy as
car manufacturers deploy technologies making use of Dedicated Short Range Communications
(DSRC) spectrum.
Systems using DSRC hold great promise. However, as you note, we must work to ensure
technologies operating in DSRC spectrum and the future world of interconnected automobiles
address the potential risks that these new technologies could create for consumers' privacy and
security.
Due to the number of interrelated issues that are implicated by DSRC, the Commission
intends to work closely with our partners at the Department of Transportation (DoT), the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Commerce and the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to address the concerns raised in your letter.
In this regard, the Commission is seeking comment on a petition requesting the adoption
of service rules protecting the cybersecurity and privacy of DSRC users and that DSRC spectrum
be reserved for vehicle safety use. Comments were due on August 25, 2016, and reply
comments are due September 9,2016. Those comments, coupled with coordinated DoT and
NHTSA activities, will inform our actions going forward.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further
assistance.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
September 7,2016
The Honorable Edward J. Markey
United States Senate
255 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Markey:
Thank you for your letter sharing your concerns about consumers' safety and privacy as
car manufacturers deploy technologies making use of Dedicated Short Range Communications
(DSRC) spectrum.
Systems using DSRC hold great promise. However, as you note, we must work to ensure
technologies operating in DSRC spectrum and the future world of interconnected automobiles
address the potential risks that these new technologies could create for consumers' privacy and
security.
Due to the number of interrelated issues that are implicated by DSRC, the Commission
intends to work closely with our partners at the Department of Transportation (DoT), the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Commerce and the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to address the concerns raised in your letter.
In this regard, the Commission is seeking comment on a petition requesting the adoption
of service rules protecting the cybersecurity and privacy of DSRC users and that DSRC spectrum
be reserved for vehicle safety use. Comments were due on August 25,2016, and reply
comments are due September 9, 2016. Those comments, coupled with coordinated DoT and
NHTSA activities, will inform our actions going forward.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if! can be of any further
assistance.