What They Are Saying: Stakeholders Support 800 MHz Cellular Spectrum for Drone Operations

FCC to Vote Thursday on an Order to Open 50 Megahertz of Licensed, Nationwide, Low-Band for Drones

The Federal Communications Commission will vote Thursday on an Order to open a huge swath of cellular spectrum for commercial drone operations. This item advances the FCC’s efforts to promote U.S. drone leadership by modernizing a rule that has unintentionally prevented drones from operating in 50 megahertz of low-band spectrum in the 800 MHz band. The FCC’s decision furthers President Trump’s call for American drone dominance.

Stakeholders across the board are applauding the action.

What they are saying:

Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI): “AUVSI applauds the FCC for acting to open the 800 MHz cellular band to uncrewed aircraft. Reliable connectivity is essential to routine beyond visual line of sight flight, and more spectrum, used flexibly, helps the industry scale.”

Amazon: “As demand for drone delivery grows, reliable wireless communications are essential to expanding operations and service to more customers. We applaud the FCC and Chairman Carr for taking steps to allow drones to access more spectrum, including cellular, creating additional connectivity options as commercial services expand. Amazon supports this important step toward accelerating drone operations and American leadership in aviation innovation.” Ashleigh de la Torre, Vice President of Public Policy

ANRA Technologies: “Enabling drone operations in the 800 MHz cellular band is an important step toward building the communications infrastructure needed to scale commercial drone operations across the United States. As drone operations expand beyond visual line of sight and increasingly share the same airspace, reliable connectivity and coordinated traffic management become essential. We applaud the FCC for removing outdated regulatory barriers and supporting the next generation of safe, scalable drone operations.” Amit Ganjoo,Founder and CEO

AT&T: “We applaud Chairman Carr and the FCC for clearing the way to put more licensed spectrum to work for drones and other innovative services. Modernizing outdated rules like these will help unlock the full potential of our wireless networks, fuel investment, and prepare America’s connectivity infrastructure for an AI-driven future. It’s the kind of forward-looking spectrum policy we need to keep the U.S. leading the next generation of wireless innovation.” Rhonda Johnson, Executive Vice President, Federal Regulatory Relations

Commercial Drone Alliance : “The Commercial Drone Alliance applauds the FCC’s efforts to promote American Drone Dominance by eliminating outdated restrictions on UAS operations in the 800 MHz Cellular band. This action is an important step toward enabling access to reliable spectrum resources for commercial drone deployment and advancing American leadership in this emerging industry.”

CTIA: “CTIA applauds the FCC for making more commercial spectrum available to support reliable, secure connectivity for innovative drone operations, including flights beyond visual line of sight. We thank Chairman Carr and the Commission for their leadership and look forward to continuing our work with policymakers to advance American wireless and drone innovation.” Scott Bergmann, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs

Dracoe : “Removing a 35-year-old restriction on drone operations in the 800 MHz Cellular band is a practical, overdue step. Access to licensed, nationwide, low-band spectrum gives American drone builders and operators reliable command, control and payload links, which is exactly what commercial and defense users need to field capability at scale. Dracoe applauds Chairman Carr and the Commission for acting to support a domestic drone industry that can compete, and deliver, at the pace the mission demands.” Nik Dunne, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder

DRONERESPONDERS: “DRONERESPONDERS, the leading nonprofit program advancing public safety UAS, cUAS, and Advanced Air Mobility, fully supports the FCC’s action to provide spectrum for advanced aviation operations in the 800 MHz cellular band. This initiative will enable access to additional spectrum for mission-critical public safety drone operations serving our communities.”Chief Charles L. Werner (ret.), Director

Ondas Inc.: “The FCC’s decision to make additional licensed spectrum available for UAS operations is a significant step forward for the United States, strengthening the communications infrastructure needed to support safe, scalable, and secure drone operations. By unlocking access to additional spectrum, including the 800 MHz cellular band, the FCC is enabling greater reliability for command-and-control links that will support the next generation of commercial and defense drone applications. This expanded spectrum environment creates new opportunities for industry to deploy advanced wireless networks and autonomous drone solutions at scale, helping meet the needs of critical infrastructure, public safety, and industrial inspection markets. Overall, the FCC’s action supports American technology leadership, accelerates innovation, and provides a stronger foundation for the growth of the domestic drone economy.” Eric Brock, Chairman & CEO

Red Cat : “Red Cat applauds Chairman Carr and the Commission for retiring a 35-year-old rule that has kept drones off America’s cellular networks. Those networks are reliable, secure, high-capacity, and proven at nationwide scale. As drones mature, they need exactly that kind of robust backup link. Opening the 800 MHz band will spur innovation, make drone operations safer, and accelerate the deployment of American drones for commercial and defense missions.”

Verizon: “By modernizing the 800 MHz spectrum rules and unlocking this band for drone use, the FCC is removing barriers to innovation, bolstering public safety and infrastructure use cases, and helping secure American leadership in the global drone economy.” Will Johnson, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & International Public Policy