U.S. agencies question FCC plan to shift auto spectrum to Wi-Fi

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Transportation and Treasury departments raised strong objections to a plan proposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to shift much of a key spectrum block set aside for auto safety to accommodate the burgeoning number of wireless devices.

Documents reviewed by Reuters show strong pushback against the plan. The Transportation Department said the FCC plan is “a particularly dangerous regulatory approach when public safety is at stake.”

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said this week the commission will vote Nov. 18 to finalize a plan to divide the 5.9 GHz spectrum block reserved in 1999 for automakers to develop technology to allow vehicles to talk to each other and traffic infrastructure, but has so far gone largely unused.