FCC asks how its satellite rules should treat drones, with comments due 25 November

TLDR

• The FCC's Space Modernization further notice was published in the Federal Register on 26 October; comments are due 25 November.¹
• The notice confirms a drone may qualify as an earth station in motion when linked to an authorised satellite system.²³
• The FCC asks whether drones need their own category and aims for access without individual licences.²³

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a further notice of proposed rulemaking, "Space Modernization for the 21st Century", in the Federal Register on 26 October (91 FR 67225, SB Docket No. 25-306), with comments due 25 November and reply comments due 28 December.¹ The Commission adopted the notice, FCC 26-47, on 22 July and released it on 23 July.¹³ Drones are covered in one part of a much wider rewrite of the FCC's space licensing rules.³

DRONELIFE and Drone Authority report that the FCC confirms a drone may qualify as an earth station in motion (ESIM) and use eligible spectrum under its part 25 and part 100 rules when it sends or receives signals to or from an authorised Fixed-Satellite Service system.²³ Drone Authority adds that the FCC says past decisions have not treated drones as their own kind of ESIM, and that a footnote says a receive-only drone needs no registration or licence unless it receives from a space station not authorised or licensed in the United States.³

The FCC asks whether rules written for earth stations aboard aircraft fit drones, whether drones are better treated as vehicle-mounted earth stations, whether they raise different interference concerns, and whether they are closer to consumer equipment such as user terminals and handsets.²³ It states a goal of spectrum access for a diverse range of drone operators on all eligible frequencies, without individualised licensing or a heavyweight technical envelope, and asks whether it should clarify how part 100 treats drones without formal rule changes.³ DRONELIFE notes the FCC has not proposed a specific new classification and is inviting industry views.²

The drone material is drawn here from the two trade outlets' reading of the notice. The Federal Register summary and dates were checked directly, but the full FCC text was not, so the drone details are as the trade outlets report them.

Why it matters: drone makers and operators have until 25 November to tell the FCC how drones that use satellite links should be classified and licensed, and the Commission says it is aiming for access without individualised licensing.²³