WASHINGTON - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted new rules enabling the initial operation of drones within the 5 GHz spectrum band, facilitating the wireless communication essential for the safe control of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). As the UAS market in the U.S. is projected to triple over the next decade and expand into a multi-billion dollar industry, these systems are playing a growing role in search and rescue, infrastructure inspection, agriculture, and more.
The FCC says that this 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 agency notes that the new rules rely on dynamic frequency management systems to manage and coordinate access to the spectrum and enable its safe and efficient use. These management systems provide 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.
"I am pleased that UAS operators will have access to spectrum for exclusive and protected use through dynamic frequency management systems," says FCC commissioner Geoffrey Starks. "Through an automated process, these dynamic frequency management systems will assign a requesting operator the temporary use of certain frequencies for a particular geographic area and time period tailored to the operator’s submitted UAS flight plan. For the duration of the assignment, the operator would have exclusive and protected use of the assigned frequencies within the assigned area and timeframe, after which the frequencies would be available in that area for assignment to another operator. By making additional spectrum available through such a framework, we ensure that spectrum is used efficiently and effectively while meeting the needs of UAS operations to be robust, reliable, and safe. That’s real progress."
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the importance of addressing the spectrum needs of UAS operations as the technology enables operations from firefighting and news gathering to national security.
"Over the last decade, drones and other unmanned or uncrewed aircraft systems have migrated from novelties in our skies to routine use in modern life," Rosenworcel says. "In 2021 there were 2 million drones in operation in the United States. By 2030, we expect that number to more than triple to 6.5 million."
The agency says it is committed to supporting the necessary spectrum access for these remote-piloted aircraft, ensuring reliable operations in controlled airspace and other safety-critical scenarios.
The new rules allow UAS operators to obtain direct frequency assignments within a portion of the 5030-5091 MHz band for non-networked operations. A dynamic frequency management system will coordinate spectrum access, ensuring safety and efficiency. In the interim, before the system is fully operational, operators will follow an access process involving deconfliction approval from the FAA and registration with the FCC.
This action aligns with the FCC's National Spectrum Strategy, previewed in November 2023. The FCC says this facilitates the growth of UAS operations in the 5 GHz band. The FCC says it will continue to collaborate with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the FAA on future spectrum needs for evolving UAS applications.
