The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has filed a memorandum with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), advocating for the protection of its 900 MHz spectrum from interference and regulatory changes. The memo, submitted on April 2, emphasizes the spectrum's critical role in rail safety systems.
According to Hogan Lovells LLP, which submitted an ex parte filing to the FCC on behalf of AAR, a meeting took place on March 31 between AAR representatives—including legal and technical personnel from CSX, BNSF, and other member companies—and Arpan Sura, senior counsel to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. The discussion centered around the railroad industry's use of several frequency bands for safety-critical communication systems and ongoing investments in rail communications networks.
AAR urged the continued nationwide use of its spectrum holdings, particularly in the 900 MHz band under its "ribbon license," which supports the Advanced Train Control System (ATCS). The memo states that AAR representatives expressed concerns about potential harmful interference from co-channel broadband operations within this band. They requested that the FCC maintain interference protections for these licenses while considering expanding needs for safety-related applications supported by railroads. These concerns are driven by recommendations from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Ondas Networks, a provider of wireless networking solutions, reports that some Class I railroads are contemplating moving Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) traffic from the legacy 900 MHz network to the 220 MHz network, which currently hosts Positive Train Control (PTC) applications. While consolidating CTC and PTC on a single network could offer benefits, it would also mean hosting two safety-critical applications on one network.
A former communications engineering director at Norfolk Southern suggested that shifting wireless communications to the 220 MHz network aligns with Norfolk Southern's strategic direction. This information was previously reported by Federal Newswire.
The Association of American Railroads is described as a leading trade association representing major freight railroads in North America.
