CSMAC Panel Finds Various Drones Have Different Spectrum Needs

The Unmanned Aircraft Spectrum Subcommittee of NTIA's Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee is finding there can’t be a single approach to spectrum since the many types of drones pose different problems and have various communications needs, said co-Chair Andrew Roy, Aviation Spectrum Resources director-engineering services. Both control and non-payload communications and command and control spectrum are “critical for safety and enabling safe integration of UAS into the national air space,” said co-Chair Carolyn Kahn, Mitre principal economics and business analyst. NTIA and the FCC “need to be informed of the various spectrum requirements,” she said at Wednesday's CSMAC meeting. “This does require coordination.” The U.S. also needs “access granting mechanisms and service rules,” she said. The report is due in March and an update here. CSMAC also discussed combining the FCC and NTIA (see 2004230004).