FCC commissioners voted unanimously to change rules for 800 MHz cellular spectrum to allow those airwaves to support communications with aerial drones, such as those utilized by public-safety entities with drone-as-first-responder (DFR) programs.
This action removes what FCC officials have described as an “unintentional” prohibition of drone communications in the 800 MHz band. The previous airborne prohibition in the spectrum band was established 35 years ago with the goal of minimizing the risk of interference from cell phones on airplanes. While using 800 MHz cellular spectrum to communicate with drone is allowed under the new rule, the prohibition of cell-phone use on airborne airplanes remains in place, according to the FCC.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the vote represents the commission’s latest action to support the development in the burgeoning drone marketplace, which he said has been a priority for the Trump administration.
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“Another central element of the FCC’s drone-dominance agenda is opening up large swaths of spectrum to spur a competitive marketplace for drone connectivity,” Carr said during the FCC’s Oct. 29 open meeting, which was webcast. “After all, virtually all drones need access to spectrum—whether to deliver video or data back to the ground, or to support mission-critical safety functions. And that demand is poised to increase as commercial drone traffic takes off.
“So today, we open up nearly 50 megahertz of low-band spectrum in the 800 MHz cellular band for drone connectivity. For decades, this spectrum was trapped here on the ground. Aerial use of the band was locked behind outdated technical rules drafted in the 1990s, long before current drone technology was available. By fixing these rules, we give drone operators a new source of spectrum and open up new business models for aerial connectivity.”
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez said that updating the 800 MHz rules to support communications to and from drones is another example of the commission responding to “numerous technological developments” that occur in an ever-changing marketplace.
“The idea of autonomous flying devices [once] was a notion of science fiction,” Gomez said during the meeting. “Today, however, uncrewed aircraft systems are widely used and commonly accessible. Now, we are tasked with making more spectrum available to facilitate their communications, and we do that today. With this decision, we do our part to support continued innovation and to make science fiction a reality.”
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FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty agreed and cited a Sept. 6 incident in St. Paul, Minn, as an example of the role that drones can play to enhance the safety of the public. In response to a 911 call, a drone was deployed quickly to the scene and provided first responders with the exact location and status of a child struggling to swim out of a pond. Two minutes later, officers were able to pull the boy from the water safely, she said.
And the potential benefits of drone technologies can be expanded with the availability of 800 MHz cellular spectrum to support communications with the devices, Trusty said.
“Access to this spectrum can help expand the use of drones for search and rescue, wildfire monitoring, farming, and infrastructure inspections,” Trusty said during the FCC meeting. “The benefits are particularly promising for rural communities, where low-band spectrum’s ability to carry signals over long distances can help drones serve areas that were otherwise difficult to reach.”
In addition to the passage of these new spectrum rules for drones, Carr noted that the FCC also is taking actions that are designed to support communications with aerial drones.
“Today’s decision is hardly the last word on bringing more spectrum to the drone marketplace,” Carr said during the FCC meeting. “After all, our proposal to modernize our rules for supplemental coverage from space—or SCS—which we just approved, also explores whether licensed wireless providers can lease spectrum to satellite operators for drone connectivity. And earlier this year, we kickstarted a larger inquiry on drone connectivity in traditional satellite bands.
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“And all of that is just a small part of our work to come. In fact, we will be voting next month on a series of regulatory reforms to open up more spectrum for nationwide drone networks, in-flight broadband, and counter-UAS detection.”
