FOSA Calls for Fiber-Enabled Interstate Roadway Metrics

FOSA Calls for Fiber-Enabled Interstate Roadway Metrics 

Automated Vehicles Comprehensive PlanWASHINGTON, DC – March 22, 2021 – The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA) filed comments with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on the Department’s . FOSA recommended that the availability of fiber-enabled interstate roadways be tracked by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).

FOSA Executive Director Mark Uncapher wrote Secretary Buttigieg: “FOSA recommends that the Transportation Department track, in a publicly available format, the availability and location of ‘fiber-enabled’ interstate roadways. Such a forward-looking approach is a natural extension of the Department’s existing ‘Dig Once’ initiatives.”

FOSA Smart Cities Committee Chairman Giovanni Milione continued: “Future-proofing our nation’s highways involves placing fiber optic cables along roads when the opportunity presents itself to do so economically. This will significantly lower future infrastructure upgrade costs. Among other benefits, fiber-enabled roadways will support the build-out of 5G wireless networks due to the need for much higher antenna density, and drive the installation of additional broadband enabling fiber optic cables.”

FOSA’s USDOT comments are available here.