FCC to vote Oct 29 on letting drones use the 800 MHz cell band
A draft order would end a 1980s-era rule that kept airborne devices off this carrier band, opening it to drones that fly beyond sight.
Drones are only allowed on some radio bands. A new plan would let them use one more band that phone companies own. This could help drones that deliver things or check pipelines.
Hype check
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Why it matters
More radio space on cell networks could help drone work like delivery, farming and inspections.
Worth a look: it shows how drone rules are slowly opening up.
The details
- The FCC vote is set for October 29, 2026; the draft text was published October 8.
- The band covers 824-849 MHz and 869-894 MHz, about 50 MHz of carrier spectrum.
- If adopted, the change takes effect 30 days after Federal Register publication.
- AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Zipline, Skydio and others filed in favor; the draft cites no opposing filers.
- Drones would connect through base stations and could not cause interference in the 890-894 MHz slice.
Updates
The FCC adopted the order 3-0 on October 29 and released the final 19-page text on October 30. It ends the 1991 ban on airborne use of the 824-849 and 869-894 MHz bands. It takes effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, which has not happened yet. The final text adds a footnote about SpaceX's application to take over licences in an adjacent band, and the FCC expects drones to coexist with possible mobile and satellite-to-phone operations there.
Receipts
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