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|    |   | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News media contact:           |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | October 21, 1999 Audrey Spivack 202-418-0500        |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | **FCC ALLOCATES SPECTRUM IN 5.9 GHz RANGE FOR       |       |
|    |   | INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS USES**           |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | **Action Will Improve the Efficiency of the**       |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | **Nation's Transportation Infrastructure\           |       |
|    |   | \<!\-- +++++++++++++++++++++++ ROW 5 - BODY         |       |
|    |   | +++++++++++++++++++++++\--\>**                      |       |
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|    |   | Washington, D.C. \-- The FCC today allocated 75     |       |
|    |   | megahertz of spectrum for intelligent               |       |
|    |   | transportation services to improve highway safety   |       |
|    |   | and efficiency as part of the U.S. Department of    |       |
|    |   | Transportation\'s \"Intelligent Transportation      |       |
|    |   | Systems\" (ITS) national program.                   |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | In a Report and Order adopted today, the FCC        |       |
|    |   | decided to use the 5.850-5.925 GHz band for a       |       |
|    |   | variety of Dedicated Short Range Communications     |       |
|    |   | (DSRC) uses, such as traffic light control, traffic |       |
|    |   | monitoring, travelers\' alerts, automatic toll      |       |
|    |   | collection, traffic congestion detection, emergency |       |
|    |   | vehicle signal preemption of traffic lights, and    |       |
|    |   | electronic inspection of moving trucks through data |       |
|    |   | transmissions with roadside inspection facilities.  |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | DSRC systems are being designed to provide a short  |       |
|    |   | range, wireless link to transfer information        |       |
|    |   | between vehicles and roadside systems. These links  |       |
|    |   | will be essential to many ITS services that are     |       |
|    |   | expected to improve traveler safety, decrease       |       |
|    |   | traffic congestion, and facilitate the reduction of |       |
|    |   | air pollution and conservation of fossil fuels. The |       |
|    |   | FCC said providing additional spectrum for ITS      |       |
|    |   | services would further the goals of Congress, the   |       |
|    |   | Department of Transportation and the ITS industry   |       |
|    |   | to improve the efficiency of the U.S.               |       |
|    |   | transportation infrastructure and to facilitate the |       |
|    |   | growth of the ITS industry.                         |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | The FCC said that the record indicates that the     |       |
|    |   | spectral environment and propagation                |       |
|    |   | characteristics of the 5.9 GHz band are appropriate |       |
|    |   | for short range DSRC applications and would enable  |       |
|    |   | sufficient signal coverage and considerable         |       |
|    |   | frequency reuse.                                    |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | (over)                                              |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | The 75 megahertz allocation for DSRC could foster   |       |
|    |   | global research, technological innovations, and     |       |
|    |   | industry standards-setting activities that are      |       |
|    |   | expected to result in the production of affordable  |       |
|    |   | DSRC equipment. Further, it is hoped that a         |       |
|    |   | significant DSRC allocation will encourage          |       |
|    |   | wide-area or nationwide interoperability and the    |       |
|    |   | continued development of DSRC services and the      |       |
|    |   | emerging ITS industry.                              |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | The FCC deferred consideration of licensing and     |       |
|    |   | service rules to a later proceeding. It invited the |       |
|    |   | ITS industry and the DOT to recommend licensing     |       |
|    |   | requirements and a channelization plan that will    |       |
|    |   | satisfy the needs for various DSRC applications.    |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | The Commission was originally petitioned by the     |       |
|    |   | Intelligent Transportation Society of America,      |       |
|    |   | which proposed this allocation for ITS services to  |       |
|    |   | increase the safety and efficiency of the Nation\'s |       |
|    |   | transportation.                                     |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | Action by the Commission October 21, 1999, by       |       |
|    |   | Report and Order (FCC 99-305). Chairman Kennard,    |       |
|    |   | Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell, and    |       |
|    |   | Tristani.                                           |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | -   FCC --                                          |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | Office of Engineering and Technology Contact: Tom   |       |
|    |   | Derenge (202) 418-2451                              |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | (ET DOCKET NO. 98-95 )                              |       |
|    |   |                                                     |       |
|    |   | Report No. ET 99-5                                  |       |
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