Data / Federal rules / 2024-29967
Spectrum Rules and Policies for the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The Federal Communications Commission published this final rule in the Federal Register on January 8, 2025. It took effect on February 7, 2025.
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What the agency says
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) enables Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) operators to access dedicated spectrum for control-related communications. Specifically, this document adopts service rules under new rule part 88 that provide operators the ability to obtain direct frequency assignments in a portion of the 5030-5091 MHz band for non-networked operation. Under these rules, one or more dynamic frequency management systems (DFMSs) will manage and coordinate access to the spectrum and enable its safe and efficient use, by providing requesting operators with temporary frequency assignments to support UAS control link communications with a level of reliability suitable for operations in controlled airspace and other safety-critical circumstances. To address concerns regarding the impact of these aeronautical operations on adjacent services, this document locates these operations, for now, in the central part of the band, with substantial separation from the bands adjacent to the 5030- 5091 MHz band.
Key facts
- Document number
- 2024-29967
- Type
- Final rule
- Action
- Final rule
- Agency
- Federal Communications Commission
- Published
- January 8, 2025
- Takes effect
- February 7, 2025
- Dates
- The rules are effective February 7, 2025, except for Sec. Sec. 88.27, 88.31, 88.33, 88.35, 88.111, 88.113, 88.115, 88.135, 88.137, and 88.141, which are delayed. The Federal Communications Commission will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date. The incorporation by reference of material listed in Sec. 88.117 is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of February 7, 2025.
- Docket
- WT Docket No. 22-323; FCC 24-91; FR ID 255475
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 47 CFR 0; 47 CFR 1; 47 CFR 2; 47 CFR 87; 47 CFR 88; 47 CFR 95
- Topics
- Administrative practice and procedure; Authority delegations (Government agencies); Communications; Communications equipment; Incorporation by reference; Organization and functions (Government agencies); Radio; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Telecommunications
- Pages
- 21
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Everything from the Federal Communications Commission · Rules on administrative practice and procedure · Rules on authority delegations (government agencies) · Rules on communications · Published in January 2025
Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.