US proposes to allocate 5G Hz spectrum exclusively for drone communications
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Update time : 2023-01-11 09:53:26
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a proposed new policy to provide the increasingly popular drones on the market with a radio communications band that would require a licence to use, in the 5G Hz band.
Currently, drones in the US generally use a range of radio frequencies that do not require a licence and are subject to the FCC's regulatory requirements for low-power wireless communications, while some drones also use an experimental radio spectrum licence. In addition to the aforementioned plans to dedicate 5G Hz spectrum resources to drones, the FCC has announced that it will solicit input on whether the current regulatory regime for radio communications can ensure the "interference-free" operation of both drones and terrestrial mobile communications.
In addition, the FCC has proposed a separate regulatory regime whereby future U.S. drone operators will need to apply for a radio licence in the VHF band used by civil aviation if they wish to communicate with civil air traffic authorities and other civil aircraft.
The FCC's Chairman Jessica Rosen
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said that as new technologies and products such as drones emerge, the FCC must ensure that the U.S. radio frequency regulatory system is adapted to the new needs, which are important for U.S. disaster recovery, emergency relief, forest fire suppression and other efforts.
Currently, the FCC says, U.S. drones are operated remotely, so they rely heavily on wireless communications between ground control sites and aerial drones to ensure proper flight.
The FCC said that as drones become more common in the US, the risks of operating them, such as large drones carrying cargo or people, or entering airspace traditionally used by civil airliners, are increasing, creating a new need for more reliable, non-interfering radio frequency resources for drone operators.
In April 2021, another US regulator, the FAA, is reported to have introduced a number of regulations on drones, mainly relating to small drones flying over ground-based residents and flying at night.
This regulatory regime required US drone manufacturers to start producing drones with so-called "remote IDs" within a year and a half. The "Remote ID" is the equivalent of providing an identification system for aerial drones, which are required to broadcast their identity to other aircraft via radio.
The FAA's original draft regulation had required drone operators to give their devices access to the internet to transmit aerial drone location information at all times, but the final drone identification regulations removed these requirements. In July last year, however, a US federal appeals court upheld the FAA's addition of these elements to the regulatory regime.
