The US Federal Communications Commission laid out a trio of proposals for several rule changes around wireless connectivity. The plans will be put to a vote later this month and largely center on direct-to-device communications. First, the agency suggested overhauling its rules for direct-to-device, or D2D, service, aiming to "promote more flexible terrestrial, satellite, and hybrid business arrangements."
Related, the second proposal is to auction 25 megahertz of mid-band spectrum. Bids would target use cases such as "flexible-use terrestrial networks, innovative direct-to-device (D2D) operations, or a hybrid of both" according to the FCC. This could entice companies like Amazon, hoping to join the growing field of satellite-based cellular service. One such company is Space X, which already has spectrum licenses from Echo Star. Yesterday the FCC granted approval to Space X for 15,000 satellites to operate at 330km.
The final FCC proposal recommends allowing drones to operate on the 800MHz cellular band. Those devices are currently prohibited from using that frequency, and if passed, the change would open up about 50 megahertz for UAVs. Over the past year, the agency has placed more restrictions on drones deemed security risks, whether for foreign-made parts or tech like LiDAR.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing