FCC Opens 50 MHz of 800 MHz Cellular Spectrum to Drone Operations
By Haye Kesteloo · · TexaHub · Drones, Regulation & Ethics
The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-0 on October 29 to lift a 1991 airborne-use ban that kept drones off 50 megahertz of licensed low-band spectrum in the 800 MHz cellular band.
The Vote
The Federal Communications Commission voted on October 29, 2026 to remove a restriction that had prevented drones from operating in 50 megahertz of low-band spectrum in the 800 MHz cellular band. The Report and Order, FCC 26-72, was approved by Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioners Anna Gomez and Olivia Trusty, with Carr and Trusty issuing separate statements. [1]
The order allows unmanned aircraft systems to use the band for command, control, communication and payload operations. The FCC said the airborne-use restriction is no longer necessary for drones because modern wireless networks use technologies that prevent drones from causing interference to them. [1]
The change does not create a new dedicated spectrum allocation for drones and does not alter FAA flight authorization requirements. [3]
A 1991 Rule
The FCC adopted rules for 800 MHz cellular radiotelephone service in 1981, making it one of the earliest licensed mobile phone bands. In 1991 it prohibited airborne use of the band to limit interference to terrestrial networks from phones on planes, and that prohibition also kept drones out. [1]
Two days before the vote, the FCC published statements of support from 11 organisations, including AT&T, Verizon, CTIA, Amazon, Red Cat, Ondas and AUVSI. The draft order had set the rules to take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register; the FCC release announcing the vote gave no effective date. [2]
BVLOS Still Depends on the FAA
Routine beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights still depend on the Federal Aviation Administration's Part 108 rule. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 requires the rule to be finalised by December 7, and as of the FCC vote it had not appeared in the Federal Register. Until then, operators flying beyond visual line of sight continue to rely on waivers or exemptions. [2]
The FCC said the vote is part of a wider effort that includes a proceeding on expanding drone spectrum access and supporting domestic drone technology, studies of cellular networks for drone operations with federal partners, and counter-drone tools for local law enforcement. Its next drone spectrum votes, on 450 MHz control links and 24 GHz drone-detection radar, are scheduled for November 19. [1] [2] [3]
Sources
[1] FCC Opens More Cellular Spectrum for Drones — Federal Communications Commission
[2] FCC Opens 800 MHz to Drones, but BVLOS Still Waits on FAA Part 108 — DroneXL
[3] FCC Opens 50 MHz of Cellular Spectrum for Drone Operations — DRONELIFE