FCC Highlights Industry Backing for Opening 800 MHz Cellular Spectrum to Drones
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- Dronelife.com
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced significant industry support for a proposed rule change that would permit commercial drones to utilize additional cellular spectrum. This announcement, made on October 27, includes endorsements from various drone companies, telecommunications providers, and industry organizations, all advocating for the removal of restrictions on drone operations in the 800 MHz cellular band.
This proposed change aims to open 50 megahertz of licensed, low-band cellular spectrum for drone operations, a move that the FCC states has been hindered by outdated regulations for approximately 35 years. Enhanced access to cellular networks is expected to improve communications for commercial drone operators, particularly for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, which are crucial for applications such as drone delivery and infrastructure inspection.
The FCC is set to vote on this order on October 29, but the announcement does not clarify the technical conditions for spectrum usage or the timeline for the implementation of the new rules. While the proposed change would not authorize BVLOS flights directly, it emphasizes the need for reliable connectivity, as highlighted by industry leaders like Amazon and AUVSI, who stress its importance for scaling commercial drone operations.
Original report
FCC Touts Industry Support for Opening 800 MHz Cellular Spectrum to Drones
Dronelife.com · Miriam McNabbThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
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