new regulations enable safer and more reliable drone operations in National airspace by drone life features editor Jim magel in a critical step toward integrating unmanned aerial system operations into National Air Traffic system the Federal Communications Commission FSC on August 29 adopted new rules that for the first time enable drone control operations to be conducted in the 5gc Spectrum the initial service rules for non networked drone operations will allow operators to obtain direct frequency assignments in a portion of the 5030 to 91 MHC band The Rules rely on Dynamic frequency Management Systems Dess to manage and coordinate access to the radio spectrum in a press release FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosen worel said the new rules would facilitate the use of drones across a number of scenarios including fighting wildfires news gather ing delivering packages and supporting National Security the FCC is working hard to meet the Spectrum needs of remote piloted aircraft activity we will continue to work with our public and private Partners to support the best outcomes for Public Safety Wireless Services consumers and our economy she said under the new rules Dynamic frequency Management Systems deaths will provide requesting operators with temporary frequency assign assignments to support U control Link Communications with a level of reliability suitable for operations in controlled airspace and other safety critical circumstances for operators seeking to transmit in the band before the dfms are put into operation the rules establish an interim access mechanism under this mechanism operator seeking to transmit in the band must first submit a request to the FAA for deconfliction and approval upon FAA authorization operators must complete an online registration form with the FCC the FCC said the interim mechanism would be made available to operators after the rules become effective and the commission has announced by public notice that it will begin accepting registrations the new rules outlined in an order that the FCC adopted by a vote represent the initial step toward modernization of spectrum regulations previewed in the National Spectrum strategy released last last November the FCC said it would continue to study ways to incorporate the deployment of uas into the 5ghz band in coordination with national telecommunications and Information Administration and the FAA according to the order the new rules will go a long way toward fully integrating drone operations into the national airspace system Nas including in the controlled airspace in which commercial passenger flights operate and in circumstances with heightened risk such as flights involving large aircraft or carrying passengers or flights Beyond line of sight of the remote pilot under the new system one or more def MSS will manage and coordinate access to the Spectrum by providing requesting drone operators with temporary frequency assignments this will help to ensure that Us control Link Communications are supported with a level of reliability suitable for operations in controlled airspace and other safety critical circumstances the order States we find wide support for enabling early direct access to a portion of the band for protected assignments under defense coordination and anticipate that such access will facilitate the safe integration of us operations into the nas so that the United States can realize the enormous potential benefits that ues operations can provide in a separate statement Rosen worel said the new rules Mark the first time the FCC has enabled drone operators to access a portion of the dedicated radio spectrum for control operations and circumstances where safety is essential FCC commissioner Jeffree Starks also issued a statement in which he said the new rules regarding the 5ghz Spectrum would help enable the use of drones in one-time operations such as Disaster Recovery efforts although we establish a regulatory framework for us operating in and radio line of sight of an operator we also permit the use of some ground infrastructure deployment such as a string of ground stations deployed over a particular and frequently used flight path he said under the new rules the dynamic frequency Management Systems would assign a requesting drone operator the temporary use of certain frequencies for a particular geographic area and time based on the operator submitted US Flight Plan the operator would have exclusive and protected use of the assigned frequencies within the assigned area and time frame for the duration of the assignment afterward the frequency would be available in that area for assignment to another operator severe weather fire and other emergencies can happen at any moment and are increasing with climate change our actions today should enable us to Be an Effective tool in Disaster Recovery efforts Stark said