Carmakers: Wireless Spectrum Sharing Bill Could Threaten Safety

Foreign carmakers say proposed legislation to share broadcast spectrum currently reserved for car-to-car connectivity could jeopardize upcoming safety systems, The Detroit News reports.

The Assn. of Global Automakers warns that "an ill-formed decision on this spectrum is a gamble."

Sponsors of the proposed Wi-Fi Innovation Act Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) insist their measure will simply utilize the spectrum more efficiently.

The Federal Communications Commission allocated use of the 5.9 GHz band for short-range intelligent transportation systems decades ago. But such technologies are still a few years from hitting the market.

In the meantime, demand for wireless services continues to surge and threaten to overload spectrum set aside for those purposes. The FCC is expected to finalize a proposal later this year that would allow the 5.9-GHz band to be shared for wi-fi services.

Carmakers fret that sharing spectrum intended for car-to-car crash-avoidance systems could cause signal interference. Rubio and Booker say their legislation will ensure adequate testing to make sure disruptions aren't a problem.