FCC Paves Way for Drones and Flying Taxis in US Skies
Published Date: 3/17/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FCC wants to update rules to help new flying tech like drones and air taxis work better and safer. They’re opening up special radio bands for better control and communication, making licenses easier to get, and improving in-flight internet. These changes could speed up cool flying tech and affect companies using these airwaves soon.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
450 MHz Band Nationwide Licensing
The FCC proposes opening the 450 MHz band to aeronautical command-and-control operations and allowing a single, nationwide license. It would also adopt flexible licensing, operating, and technical rules to enable robust use across a range of altitudes while minimizing interference.
Modernize In-Flight Connectivity Power Rules
The FCC proposes modernizing legacy power rules for Commercial Aviation Air-Ground Systems in the 849–851 MHz and 894–896 MHz bands that are used for in-flight connectivity. The proposal would update power-related technical rules for those specific frequency bands.
Expand 24.45–24.65 GHz for UAS Detection
The FCC proposes expanding radiolocation operations in the 24.45–24.65 GHz band for uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) detection operations. The change is aimed at enabling detection uses of that specific 24.45–24.65 GHz frequency range.
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