To help facilitate the safe operation of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS, otherwise known as drones), the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has published new rules applicable to the operation of UAS in the 5 GHz spectrum band.
A Report and Order issued by the Commission establishes initial service rules applicable to wireless communications technologies that support UAS control and operations. Specifically, the rules allow UAS operators to obtain frequency assignments in a portion of the 5 GHz band intended for use by non-networked operations.
The FCC says the new rules are based on the use of dynamic frequency management systems that can manage and coordinate access to the spectrum and provide temporary frequency assignments to support UAS communications in controlled airspace and other safety-critical situations.
The use of drones and other types of UAS is growing rapidly and has become increasingly essential in search and rescue missions. The FCC predicts that UAS operations will triple during the current decade in terms of the number of devices in use. Hence the need to provide safe access to expanded portions of the wireless spectrum.
The FCC’s Report and Order detailing spectrum rules for the operation of UASs in the 5GHz band is available at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-24-91A1.pdf.
