FCC rule grants drone operators spectrum access for navigation

The Federal Communications Commission issued new rules on Thursday that would allow unmanned aerial vehicles — also known as drones — to use a portion of the 5 GHz spectrum band to enhance their wireless connectivity. 

The agency said its order “establishes initial service rules that allow operators to obtain direct frequency assignments in a portion of the 5030-5091 MHz band for non-networked operations.”

The FCC first proposed rules in January 2023 to provide drones with enhanced spectrum access. The agency requested public input at the time on the types of safety measures needed to help unmanned aerial vehicles effectively share band access. 

The agency’s order released on Thursday said it is initially limiting drone access to “the central part of the [5 GHz spectrum] band” to “address concerns regarding the impact of these aeronautical operations on adjacent services.”

The new rule also established “an interim access mechanism” to allow drone operators to submit requests for spectrum access to the Federal Aviation Administration. Once approved by the FAA, operators would then be required to complete a registration form with the FCC. 

“The interim mechanism will be made available to operators after the rules become effective and the commission has announced by Public Notice that it will begin accepting registrations,” the agency said. 

The new rules noted that the actions “are initial steps” and that future actions may be needed to provide drone operators with enhanced wireless flexibility.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement that the agency will continue to work with public and private sector partners “to support the best outcomes for public safety, wireless services, consumers and our economy.”

“We are already starting to live in the future we’ve long imagined: uncrewed aircraft systems are fighting wildfires, supporting news gathering, delivering packages, and supporting national security,” she said. “The FCC is working hard to meet the spectrum needs of remote-piloted aircraft activity.”

The Biden administration’s National Spectrum Strategy, released in November 2023, noted that the FCC was moving to enhance drone access in the 5030-5091 MHz band as a starting point.

“Thereafter, this 61 megahertz of spectrum will be studied so that the FCC can optimize [unmanned aerial vehicles] spectrum access across the band while avoiding harmful interference to other protected in-band and adjacent-band operations,” the strategy said.