FCC to Vote on Opening 50 MHz of 800 MHz Spectrum to Drones on 29 October
· TexaHub · Drones, Regulation & Ethics, Technology Trends
Chairman Brendan Carr has put a proposal to lift a restriction on airborne use of the 800 MHz cellular band on the agenda of the FCC's 29 October meeting, alongside a measure targeting foreign test labs.
The Proposal
The Federal Communications Commission plans to vote on 29 October on an order removing a rule that has kept drones from operating in the 800 MHz cellular band, potentially opening 50 MHz of nationwide licensed low-band spectrum, according to DroneLife and Converge Digest [1][3]. Chairman Brendan Carr said the item "advances the FCC's efforts to promote U.S. drone leadership by modernizing a rule that has unintentionally prevented drones from operating in the 800 MHz band" [1].
Commercial UAV News and DroneLife both note that lower-frequency spectrum offers broader coverage and could matter most for beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations, while operators would still need FAA authorisation [1][2].
Wider Wireless Package
The drone item is one of three proposals announced for the meeting, Broadband Communities reported. The others are an auction of 25 MHz of mid-band spectrum and rules making an additional 482 MHz available for satellite-to-phone coverage [4]. Converge Digest places the auction in the 1675-1695 MHz and 2020-2025 MHz bands and says it could support terrestrial or direct-to-device use [3].
Carr said the proposals build on gains in which "speeds are up, prices are down, and competition is increasing" [4].
Foreign Test Labs
The FCC will also consider barring electronics testing laboratories and certification bodies in countries that do not offer reciprocal recognition to US organisations. Carr said 82% of electronics were tested in a single country that does not recognise US laboratories in 2025, DroneLife reported [1]. Broadband Breakfast described the item as blocking China-based labs from the equipment certification programme [5].
Sources
[1] "Hammer Down": FCC Moves to Open 50 MHz of Spectrum for Drones — DroneLife, 8 Oct 2026
[2] Around the Commercial Drone Industry: FCC Voting, FPV Flythrough of L.L.Bean, Drone Delivery Scale — Commercial UAV News, 9 Oct 2026
[3] FCC Proposes Major Spectrum Expansion for D2D, Terrestrial Wireless — Converge Digest, Oct 2026
[4] Carr seeks to expand wireless connectivity for commercial drones — Broadband Communities, 8 Oct 2026
[5] FCC to Consider New Spectrum Auction, Slate of Other Wireless Initiatives — Broadband Breakfast, 7 Oct 2026