[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33947-33949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16251]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Dedicated Short Range Communication Systems; Applications for
Frequency Assignments
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA invites any party interested in making use of
spectrum in the 5850 to 5925 megahertz (MHz) radio frequency band for
dedicated short range communication (DSRC) systems to request an
application package for frequency assignment. The use of these
frequencies will be limited to certain applications and subject to
technical constraints. This spectrum was allotted to the FHWA on an
experimental basis for 15 years and is intended to be used by the FHWA
to develop applications for the Intelligent Transportation Systems
(ITS) program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James A. Arnold, Intelligent
Systems and Technologies Division, (703) 285-2974, or Ms. Beverly
Russell, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-0780, Federal Highway
Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590. Office
hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 23, 1996, the FHWA was granted shared
use of spectrum in the 5850-5925 MHz radio frequency band for
development and testing of DSRC. The authorization was granted through
a Certificate of Spectrum by the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA), the agency responsible for
management of Federal spectrum. This spectrum was allotted to the FHWA
on an experimental basis for 15 years and is intended to be used by the
FHWA to develop applications for the ITS program. The FHWA invites
parties interested in making use of these frequencies for ITS
applications to request an application package as indicated below.
The national ITS program encompasses the use of advanced and
emerging technologies in such fields as information processing,
communications, control and electronics to increase the safety and
efficiency of the Nation's intermodal transportation system. One way in
which the FHWA facilitates the development of ITS is through research
and testing of enabling technologies for ITS. DSRC is one such
technology, identified as being critical to the future nationwide
interoperability of intelligent transportation systems applications in
the National ITS Architecture Final Report (June 1996). DSRC systems
consist of short-range communication devices that are capable of
transferring large amounts of data over a wireless interface between
mobile or stationary vehicles and normally structure-mounted or
handheld stationary devices at the roadside. When
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used, each DSRC application, like all other radio frequency systems,
requires some specific, unused portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The FHWA intends to share the use of its recently acquired spectrum
with public and private organizations in selected ITS projects
involving applications that are broadly consistent with the following:
In-Vehicle Signing, Highway-Rail Intersection, Commercial Vehicle
Operations (CVO) Electronic Clearance*, CVO Automated Roadside
Inspection*, Fleet Management, Intermodal Freight Management, Hazardous
Material Incident Response, CVO Off-line Verification, Intersection
Collision Avoidance, Emergency Vehicle Signal Preemption, Transit
Vehicle Signal Priority, Transit Vehicle Data Transfer, High-occupancy
Vehicle (HOV) Access Clearance, Traffic Network Performance Monitoring,
Traffic Information Dissemination, Automated Highway System to Vehicle
Communications, Electronic Toll Collection*, and Parking Payments. The
functions marked with an asterisk are likely to be limited to the 5850-
5875 MHz portion of the radio frequency band. A full description of
these services is included in the frequency assignment application
package (see Applications for Frequency Assignments below).
Objectives
The FHWA has several objectives related to the experimental use of
this spectrum. The first objective is to foster the development of a
single nationwide standard system for DSRC. Such a standard implies a
minimum level of interoperability of the communication link such that a
single in-vehicle unit will meet all known user requirements. Since
this communication link has not been fully defined, there exists an
opportunity for the DSRC community and the FHWA to jointly develop a
single communications link for DSRC systems. This definition of
standards in the DSRC area is currently being conducted under the
auspices of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) and
the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
The second, and related, FHWA objective is to develop a DSRC system
that is compatible with existing users of the band. Much of the
information concerning electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of DSRC
systems and other systems is not available to the general public. The
FHWA can assist DSRC users to identify and resolve potential EMC
issues.
The third objective is to develop a DSRC system that is not only
sufficiently robust to meet existing requirements of the applications
identified above, but is also capable of expanding to include
applications that are as yet unknown. Future application requirements
may be difficult to define, but must be considered if this DSRC system
is to have a service life sufficient to warrant deployment nationwide.
Applications may be proposed that have not yet been considered but
which involve innovative uses of the spectrum to meet user requirements
and provide significant societal benefits.
Finally, the FHWA encourages organizations interested in using this
spectrum to apply as soon as possible. As mentioned above, this
spectrum has been specifically allotted for experimental work that will
aid in developing early products for a nationwide and compatible DSRC
system.
Terms of Use
Under the terms of this authorization (a Stage 2 Experimental
Certificate of Spectrum Support from the NTIA), the FHWA must maintain
administrative control over the use of these frequencies, which is
accomplished through a contract or memorandum of understanding between
the FHWA and the party applying for use of this spectrum. Several terms
of the Certificate of Spectrum support apply to the FHWA or any party
with whom the FHWA enters into an agreement, and are stated as follows:
(1) There is an absolute prohibition against interfering with
existing users of the spectrum in the 5850-5925 MHz and surrounding
bands (see number 2 below). If such interference takes place, the FHWA
must demand that the interfering entity either cease operation or take
other appropriate action. The right of the FHWA to make such a demand,
and the obligation of the interfering entity to immediately comply,
will be written in all contracts or memoranda of understanding for use
of the spectrum.
(2) The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the NTIA share
jurisdiction over this Mhz radio frequency band. The FCC has allocated
this spectrum on a primary basis to fixed satellite earth-to-space
applications, and on a secondary basis to amateur radio operations. The
NTIA has allocated this spectrum to government radiolocation and the
band is used for military radar applications. Experimental DSRC systems
must, therefore, defer to these types of systems. As part of the
agreement to allow experimental use of this band it was pointed out by
the NTIA that: (i) The band is allocated to the radiolocation service,
and is the subject of ongoing reallocation efforts; (ii) the FCC issued
a final rule at 62 FR 4649 on January 31, 1997, to provide for
unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) devices in the
5150-5350 and 5725-5875 MHz bands (47 CFR part 15, subpart E); (iii)
this system may suffer harmful interference from adjacent and co-
channel high power Department of Defense (DoD) systems in this band, in
addition to harmonics of 2700-2900 MHz radar operations; (iv) the DSRC
system may not be deployed (i.e., be made available to the general
public) until the FHWA performs an analysis that identifies techniques
to mitigate the electromagnetic interference potential from and to
other co and adjacent-band users, and all parties agree that
electromagnetic compatibility exists.
(3) The FHWA is required further by NTIA to: (i) Conduct an
analysis to determine potential worst-case interference distances for a
set of emitters identified by the DoD; (ii) perform coordinated testing
in areas indicated by the analysis [that] pose the greatest
interference threat to either the DoD systems or [DSRC systems], and
provide copies of the test results to DoD for review; and (iii) limit
[DSRC system] operations to areas that are determined to be free from
interference either to or from the emitters identified by the DoD.
Again, any agreement entered by the FHWA with another party applying
for use of this spectrum must aim to ensure that these recommendations
are upheld.
Additional Terms of Use--Technical Limitations
Bandwidth: The power emission shall be attenuated below the highest
power contained within the authorized channel according to the
following schedule:
3 dB Bandwidth--1.0 MHz
20 dB Bandwidth--2.2 MHz
60 dB Bandwidth--10.0 Mhz
Power: The maximum permissible effective radiated power (ERP) for
base and mobile, is 10 watts.
Modulation: The final digital modulation type that will be
authorized on these frequencies is currently under study. It will be a
digital modulation, with a spectral efficiency such that channel data
rates in the vicinity of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) will be
supported. This will yield a user data rate of between 300 and 400
kbps. For any specific field experiments that want to use the
frequencies prior to the
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determination of a standard modulation scheme, the FHWA will grant
authorization for a period not to exceed one year for alternative
modulations that meet the overall bandwidth limitations (attenuation
vs. frequency displacement) specified above.
Frequency Stability: Base and Mobile stations shall maintain the
carrier frequency within 0.1 ppm.
Hardware type Acceptance: If the equipment has received an FCC Type
Acceptance Number, this should be stated in connection with any
application for an experimental license.
Applications for Frequency Assignments
To request an application package or additional information,
parties interested in using these frequencies should contact the
following: James A. Arnold, Intelligent Systems and Technologies
Division, HSR-10, 6300 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101-2296, (703)
285-2974. Generally, frequency assignments will be made for one to
three years with potential for renewal.
(Authority: 23 U.S.C 307 note)
Issued on: June 13, 1997.
Jane Garvey,
Acting Administrator for the Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-16251 Filed 6-20-97; 8:45 am]
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