The US FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) have issued a public notice, seeking input on an array of reforms the Commission could take to achieve US supremacy in drone technology, manufacturing, and operations. The proposals also cover various aspects of eVTOL and counter-UAS operations,
According to the notice:
“The production, deployment, and export of American unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or drones) and antidrone defense systems (Counter-UAS) have become core elements of our economic and military superiority. In addition, emerging technologies like electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft are expected to enable new capabilities for transporting cargo and people, including in hard to reach areas and in emergencies….By this Public Notice, the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) seek comment on a range of actions that the agency can take to further advance American drone dominance,” said the text of the notice.
WTB and OET seek input on an array of reforms the Commission might take, including:
- Alleviating unnecessary regulatory burdens that frustrate drone deployment, including Commission rules or policies—such as siting or device certification—that may create friction for the growth of a competitive, secure, and innovative domestic drone ecosystem.
- Ensuring that American drone manufacturers and users have access to sufficient spectrum for drone testing and operations, including services to the public.
- Facilitating and encouraging American firms’ investment in drone capabilities, developing infrastructure, and offering innovative and advanced capabilities.
- Ensuring that U.S.-based manufacturers and trusted suppliers have the regulatory clarity and technical access needed to scale production and secure investment.
- Coordinating more effectively with other federal agencies to align spectrum policies with national security imperatives and reduce the risk posed by untrusted foreign-origin UAS operating in U.S. airspace.
- Streamlining the FCC’s experimental licensing rules to facilitate more agile testing of UAS communications systems—including beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) links, command and control (C2) systems, detect-and-avoid (DAA) technologies, and secure navigation tools—across a broader range of spectrum bands.
- Establishing additional dedicated drone innovation zones or testbeds, in partnership with federal, state, academic, or private entities, and streamlining authorizations to help spur early-stage experimentation and commercialization.
Feedback on the proposals will be accepted up to 1 May 2026.
“The FCC has been shifting the application process for UAS and Counter-UAS experimental licenses to warp speed.,” according to an accompanying agency statement. “Since January 2025, the Commission has granted 227 UAS experimental approvals, and, for the first time ever, eight counter-UAS experimental approvals. These include experimental licenses for use by the Department of War as part of the implementation of President Trump’s Unleashing American Drone Dominance executive order. Compared to the previous four years, from 2021-2024, approvals granted by the FCC for UAS conventional experimental licenses have increased by 68%.”
“We seek comment on ways to modernize and streamline the experimental licensing process specifically for UAS-related testing,” said the accompanying text. “Should the Commission consider establishing a dedicated UAS experimental license category with flexible terms tailored to drone developers, including longer durations, broader geographic coverage, or expedited renewals? Would a tiered licensing structure—e.g., differentiating between academic, commercial prototype, and production-scale testing—improve regulatory predictability and reduce administrative burdens? We also seek comment on whether the Commission should implement pre-cleared test ranges or corridors (in coordination with FAA and NTIA) where licensees could conduct UAS experiments with reduced paperwork and faster approvals.”
“We further seek comment on whether the Commission should explore a blanket experimental authorization for qualified drone developers operating within specified frequency bands and safety parameters. Would a modular “plug-and-play” approach—where applicants can select from a set of preapproved use cases, frequency bands, and technical standards—streamline approvals while preserving necessary safeguards against harmful interference? Should the Commission also allow more flexible use of temporary and special temporary authority (STA) grants for UAS innovation, particularly in support of public-private testbeds and emerging drone corridors? Finally, we seek comment on the utility of our Part 5 experimental licensing rules for the testing of certain Counter-UAS technologies under controlled conditions. Our current rules limit Counter-UAS to research and development purposes—not for operational mitigation or enforcement. Do these restrictions unduly inhibit commercial development of Counter-UAS?”
The FCC also seeks comments on permitting more intensive UAS operations in flexible use terrestrial bands typically relied upon for mobile broadband. “Some commercial drones and advanced operators have used licensed commercial wireless networks (such as LTE/4G/5G) where permitted, especially for non-safety-critical payload data or in areas where FCC rules do not restrict airborne use of those bands. We seek comment on the scope and scale of UAS deployment over licensed flexible-use bands today and the extent to which these bands can support more intensive aerial operations.”
“We also seek comment on steps the FCC can take to facilitate UAS or Counter-UAS spectrum access in the context of any pending inter-agency proceedings or efforts in which the FCC is involved. As the UAS and Counter-UAS environment develops, providing a centralized information resource to assist UAS and Counter-UAS operators with equipment authorizations, spectrum licensing, and waiver processes could expedite innovation. This resource could assist both commercial operators and public safety entities by consolidating relevant information, links, precedents, and Commission contacts related to the Commission’s national security, supply chain, equipment, and spectrum regulations. We seek comment on whether, and if so how, the formation of a centralized information resource can facilitate the rapid deployment of UAS and Counter-UAS?.”
For more information
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-314A1.pdf
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