House Lawmakers Gear Up To Address Drone Legislation Mentioning Spectrum

February 5, 2016 |Capitol Hill

Multiple pieces of House legislation introduced this week involve drones and the spectrum they require. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., introduced legislation that would require the Federal Aviation Administration to appoint a deputy associate administrator for unmanned aircraft to “develop strategies” for drone spectrum issues. This Commercial Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Modernization Act (HR-4432) has no co-sponsors and is referred to the House Transportation and Science committees. It’s similar to legislation introduced by Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., last year. “Broadcasters believe UAS can help improve newsgathering, especially during times of emergency, and support regulations that enable their responsible use,” an NAB spokesman said of the proposal, which he said “contributes to a sensible framework for the commercial operation of unmanned aircraft systems.” Drone issues are expected to receive substantial attention this year in the bicameral FAA reauthorization effort, likely to start within the House Transportation Committee and continue through the Senate Commerce Committee. Chief Republicans on the House Transportation Committee introduced a six-year FAA reauthorization bill Wednesday that included spectrum language. The bill would spin off air traffic control from the FAA, to operate under a federally chartered air traffic control corporation. “Beginning on the date of transfer, the Secretary [of Transportation] shall provide the Corporation with such access to the spectrum systems used by the FAA before the date of transfer to provide air traffic services, and any successor spectrum systems, and to the data from such systems, as is necessary to enable the Corporation to provide air traffic services under this subtitle,” said the text of the Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (HR-4441). Senior Transportation Committee Democrats opposed that proposal, they said in a statement Wednesday. It will be subject to a hearing and markup next week.