Drone Group Raises Aerospace Spectrum Concerns at FCC

The Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Coalition raised concerns about the Aerospace Industries Association's June filing on a flexible regulatory framework that enables command and control operations to support drones. The coalition said AIA met with it and CTIA. “An overall concern with initiating this proceeding is that absent a clear understanding of its scope, decisions made in this proceeding could set precedent for decisions the Commission will be called upon to make in other proceedings related to UAS spectrum needs,” filed the Small UAV Coalition in RM-11798, posted Tuesday. “The Coalition was given assurances by AIA that it agreed with the concern.” AIA has emphasized throughout the rules should apply only to large drones at high altitudes, the UAV group said. The coalition disagreed with arguments the FCC needs a spectrum road map for drones. More important than a ‘roadmap’ is the Commission’s continued promotion of service and technical rules that promote flexible uses of spectrum and do not inhibit UAS operations without evidence of interference,” the coalition said. “Where specialized uses are found, spectrum rules designed to address those unique needs may be warranted.”