The Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology granted a 21-day extension of the deadline for submitting replies to comments regarding a proposed rule change regarding the 5.9 GHz band, also commonly referred to as the "safety spectrum."

The new deadline of April 27 resulted from the extensive comments submitted and disruptions caused by COVID-19.

ATSSA is "steadfastly opposed" to the Federal Communication Commission's plan to reallocate a portion of the 5.9 GHz band of spectrum to other uses out of concerns for "safety and security," President & CEO Roger Wentz said in a statement filed this week with the Federal Register.

People have until March 9 to submit comments and until April 6 to post replies to the proposal, first announced by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai at a Nov. 20 meeting with Citizens Against Government Waste, New America’s Open Technology Institute, and WifiForward.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Jan. 27, 2020) – The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), in partnership with the National Academy of Sciences’ Transportation Research Board (TRB), honored the winners of the Traffic Control Device Challenge (TCD Challenge) today during a ceremony at the Association’s 50^th Anniversary Convention & Traffic Expo. Engineering students from across the U.S. competed in the TCD Challenge, which was titled: “Connected and Autonomous Innovations for Improving Work Zone Safety.”

Work continues on incorporating traffic signals into the Association’s activities to advance roadway safety. In 2019, ATSSA formed a Traffic Signals Committee and new membership category during its Midyear Meeting to ensure that the Association is representing all sectors of the roadway safety infrastructure industry and areas related to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). It also will allow ATSSA to move forward with new partnerships with traffic signal installers and manufacturers.

The Department of Defense (DOD),  the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), and ATSSA oppose a new 5.9 Gigahertz (GHz) band proposal recently made by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai.