The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will publish a new rule on January 8, 2025 which will enable Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) operators to access dedicated spectrum for control-related communications.
According to the notice of publication in the Federal Reigster:
“Specifically, this document adopts service rules under new rule part 88 that provide operators the ability to obtain direct frequency assignments in a portion of the 5030-5091 MHz band for non-networked operation. Under these rules, one or more dynamic frequency management systems (DFMSs) will manage and coordinate access to the spectrum and enable its safe and efficient use, by providing requesting operators with temporary frequency assignments to support UAS control link communications with a level of reliability suitable for operations in controlled airspace and other safety-critical circumstances.
“To address concerns regarding the impact of these aeronautical operations on adjacent services, this document locates these operations, for now, in the central part of the band, with substantial separation from the bands adjacent to the 5030-5091 MHz band.”
According to the publication’s synopsis:
“Achieving the extraordinary potential of UAS technology will require integrating UAS operations into the National Airspace System (NAS), including in the controlled airspace in which commercial passenger flights operate and in circumstances with heightened risk, such as flights involving large aircraft or carrying passengers or flights beyond line of sight of the remote pilot. To ensure that these flights are sufficiently safe for routine operation, highly reliable wireless two-way communications for flight control and telemetry are required. In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WT Docket No. 22-323, FCC 22-101, 88 FR 7910 (February 7, 2023) (UAS NPRM), the Commission proposed rules for the 5030-5091 MHz band to help address these spectrum needs…. the Commission now takes an initial step to enable UAS operators to access dedicated spectrum in the 5030-5091 MHz band for control-related communications with the required reliability. Specifically, the Commission adopts new UAS service rules under new rule part 88 that provide operators the ability to obtain direct frequency assignments in a portion of the 5030-5091 MHz band for non-networked operation.”
“The Commission finds wide support for enabling early, direct access to a portion of the band for protected assignments under DFMS coordination, and anticipates that such access will facilitate the safe integration of UAS operations into the NAS so that the United States can realize the enormous potential benefits that UAS operations can provide.”
For more information
https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-29967/spectrum-rules-and-policies-for-the-operation-of-unmanned-aircraft-systems
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