The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” or H.R.1, passed by the U.S. House would auction off federal spectrum rights over the next couple of years, ultimately turning off vehicle wireless safety features, according to an Alliance for Automotive Innovation (Auto Innovators) blog post written by John Bozzella, president and CEO.  

The electromagnetic spectrum is what carries information and radio signals across airwaves owned by the American people, the blog says. This includes texts, Wi-Fi, radio, TV broadcasts, and streaming services. 

“To ensure devices and equipment can connect, different spectrum bands (aka frequencies) are set aside for certain types of wireless technologies,” the blog says. “Automakers are investing heavily in wireless connectivity and use ultra-wideband (UWB) — operating in the 6-8.5 GHz band — for lots of safety and convenience features.”

Bozzella says in the blog that the spectrum rights are “prime wireless real estate” that some policymakers and other industries want turned over to other technologies. 

If the airwaves are sold, automakers won’t have access, and safety and convenience features won’t work, he writes. 

This would include key fobs, with 20% of new vehicles today using UWB key fobs to unlock, start, and operate vehicles. 

Other UWB wireless features include short-range radar systems to prevent collisions with pedestrians and cyclists, digital keys, remote parking, hands-free trunk release, anti-theft capabilities, and real-time vehicle positioning to locate wireless EV charging.

“UWB technology can even map road surface conditions to determine if a vehicle has veered off the roadway,” the blog says. “Another promising UWB vehicle technology that could be in jeopardy? Lifesaving occupant detection technology that tells you if a child is left in a hot car or a person is having a medical emergency.”

Bozzella says automakers use the spectrum to enable vehicle safety technology that policymakers have required them to make standard. 

“Paying for the tax and budget bill is important,” the blog says. “That’s the point of the auction, by the way. Congress will use the revenue to reduce the cost of the legislation… ‘pay-fors’ in Washington speak. But it can’t come at the expense of the millions of current vehicles and drivers that rely on this slice of the public airwaves to safely operate their vehicles.”

The House Energy & Commerce Committee’s report on the bill said UWB frequencies between 7.25 GHz and 8.4 GHz should be excluded from the auction. However, the recommendations were not written into the bill prior to approval. 

“Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) fixed this oversight in the Senate’s version of the bill,” the blog says. “That was the right call. The Senate should insist this spectrum is protected when it takes up the bill and ensure American drivers and passengers keep their wireless vehicle safety features.”

The National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) also released a statement regarding provisions in the bill, saying it could disrupt the overall markets it oversees. 

“First, the legislation needs to include or enable a specific consumer education program and overall communication process regarding the proposed changes related to marketplace eligibility verification and re-enrollment processes, cost-sharing reduction payments, and the uncertainty surrounding the enhanced premium tax credits so as to prevent significant turmoil to our states,” the statement says.

“Second, the proposed 10-year moratorium on state legislative and regulatory authority over artificial intelligence (AI) systems would wrongly curtail our ability as state legislators to develop policy that protects our constituents.  Those constituents have been steadfast in asking for protections against the current unknowns surrounding AI, and they cannot wait 10 years for a state-based policy response.  Indeed, these next years provide an excellent opportunity for the States to serve as the laboratories of democracy that have proven so effective in the past.”

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) approved a model bulletin on the use of AI by insurance companies for states in 2023. NCOIL supported and provided thoughts on the bulletin during the comment period.

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