The FCC Wireless Bureau is seeking to refresh the record on use of the 5030-5091 MHz band by drones, after taking comment in 2019 (see 1912270039). Last month, Commissioner Geoffrey Starks urged the FCC to focus on the band (see 2108050056). The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) asked the FCC to develop rules for using the spectrum for unmanned aircraft system controls (see 1909120073). The bureau seeks to “update the record to reflect operational, technical, and regulatory developments that have occurred over the last three years in the rapidly growing and evolving area of UAS operations and that are relevant to this proceeding,” said a notice in Monday’s Daily Digest: “We also seek to explore certain aspects of the AIA proposal in greater detail than is reflected in the current record.” The focus has been on direct radio-line-of-sight communications between controller and drones, but “we seek comment on whether the Commission should consider licensing alternatives in this band to support the growing interest in beyond radio-line-of-sight … operations,” the bureau said. Comment deadlines are to come in a Federal Register notice. “While the issues are complex and will require careful work with our federal partners at the FAA and NTIA, I’m hopeful that the new round of comments will allow the Commission to address the full spectrum needs of UAS and enable this important industry to fulfill its full potential,” Starks said.
Commercial Drone Alliance representatives urged a rulemaking to develop service and licensing rules allowing drone use of the 5030-5091 MHz band, in a call with an aide to acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The alliance supports allowing command and control operations in other flexible-use bands, said a filing posted Tuesday in RM-11798.
Commissioners upheld 4-0 a $2.86 million fine against HobbyKing for marketing drone transmitters not approved under FCC equipment authorization rules (see 2007240044). HobbyKing allegedly sold devices that use a video link between transmitters on unmanned aircraft systems and users flying drones. “These devices must have obtained certification through the FCC’s equipment authorization process based on their operating parameters,” the agency said Thursday. FCC investigators found HobbyKing sold 65 models that required but didn’t get agency approval. The company didn’t comment. “The marketing of this equipment was especially egregious because the devices threatened to interfere with critical FAA systems and other federal operations and were never capable of being certified,” said Josh Zeldis, Enforcement Bureau attorney-adviser. Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said that it's “a notice to all others that we take our policies protecting our airwaves seriously.”
Boeing representatives spoke with an aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr on the company’s push for an NPRM on service rules enabling use of the 5030-5091 MHz band for unmanned aircraft systems, “The lack of access to licensed spectrum for UAS command and control is not merely a hypothetical problem that will be felt once UAS technologies are deployed at scale, but a real, ongoing problem that is impacting the industry’s ability to develop these systems today,” Boeing said in a filing posted Wednesday in RM-11798.
Boeing representatives urged the FCC to move forward with an NPRM on service rules enabling use of the 5030-5091 MHz band for unmanned aircraft systems, in a call with acting Chief Ron Repasi and others from the Office of Engineering and Technology. The FCC sought comment in 2019 (see 1912270039). “Boeing described the existing, ongoing challenges of developing and testing new technologies in the UAS sector without dedicated licensed spectrum, including coordination issues with the Federal Aviation Administration, among other challenges,” said a filing posted Friday in RM-11798.
Boeing urged the FCC to act on a rulemaking on service rules to enable use of the 5030-5091 MHz band for unmanned aircraft systems, in a call with FCC Wireless Bureau staff. “Lack of access to licensed spectrum for UAS command and control is not merely a hypothetical problem that will be felt once UAS technologies are deployed at scale, but a real, ongoing problem that is impacting the industry’s ability to develop these systems today.” A filing posted Tuesday in RM-11798 said Boeing recently received FCC experimental authority to test one UAS technology, but the FAA required use of licensed spectrum.
Boeing representatives urged the FCC to issue an NPRM on enabling use of the 5030-5091 MHz band for unmanned aircraft systems, in a call with an aide to acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. There's "need for licensed spectrum to support the communications needs of the growing UAS industry,” said a filing posted Wednesday in RM-11798: “The parties discussed the extent to which adopting licensing and service rules for the C-band is a critical component of that overarching endeavor, which likely will include a variety of spectrum options to support UAS operations, including commercial wireless providers operating under flexible use licenses.”
Final rules for drone remote identification and regulating flights over people and moving vehicles and at night (see 2012290025) take effect April 21, the FAA announced Friday. Remote ID “requires identification of drones in flight as well as the location of their control stations or takeoff point,” the agency said. Drone operation over people and moving vehicles and at night is prohibited without a waiver.
The FCC Wireless Bureau OK'd a waiver for Aura Network Systems and A2G Communications to provide additional, non-general aviation air-ground service, including to drones, in the 450 MHz band. “We are very pleased with the FCC’s quick action and this decision will enable AURA to proceed full speed to provide critical command and control information for Beyond Visual Line of Sight drone operation at all altitudes and everywhere in America,” emailed Peter Pitsch, executive vice president-regulatory and government affairs. “We find that it would serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity to grant limited waiver relief,” said the order in Friday's Daily Digest: “AURA currently is operating a nationwide general aviation air-ground service, and its nationwide network effectively gives Petitioners exclusive use of the band. As Petitioners point out, in the last ten years, other parties have not shown interest in operating in the band and have overwhelmingly supported Petitioners’ steps to grow and modernize their existing network.”
The Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security loosened its license review policy for exports of certain drones controlled under export administration regulations. After similar action by the State Department in July (see 2007280006), this imposes case-by-case license review on certain unmanned aerial systems (UASs) rather than presumption of denial. The U.S. “remains committed to the goals” of the multilateral missile technology control regime, in which the drones are still controlled under a “strong presumption of denial,” but “rapid advances” in drone technology and “growing commercial uses” for UAS warrant loosened export restrictions, BIS ruled in Tuesday's Federal Register.