CTIA, which is a wireless association that represents the wireless communications industry in the United States, has called on the FAA to recognize that commercial wireless networks offer the best communications platform to support America's UAS market that continues to grow and evolve at a rapid pace.

The call from CTIA comes as the FAA looks to establish the first federal rules governing how UAS should communicate with each other and the surrounding environment.

CTIA says that commercial wireless networks would best stimulate the UAS economy because they are equipped with several key attributes, including proven high quality of service and reliability, interoperability with traffic management systems and UAS dashboards, and resilient and robust networks that can support low altitude UAS communications.

“Commercial drones will help industries from energy to agriculture and logistics while enhancing public safety, but they will need the wireless industry’s networks to reach their full potential,” says Meredith Attwell Baker, CTIA President and CEO.

“It’s important that the federal government get this right by recognizing that U.S. wireless providers offer the best, most widely available and safest platform for future drone communications which will be further enhanced by next generation wireless.”

In early 2018, the FAA is expected to open a formal rule-making process to address which spectrum platform would best serve UAS communications.

CTIA says that commercial wireless networks offer the best availability, reliability, and security for the UAS industry to prosper.

On Nov. 14, CTIA is bringing together different members of the industry such as Amazon, AT&T, Qualcomm and Verizon for a meeting of its Drone/UAS Working Group.

Government stakeholders from the Administration, FAA, the Department of Transportation, NASA, and the Department of Homeland Security will also be in attendance for the meeting, to discuss CTIA’s call to action and the recommendations presented in its white paper entitled ‘Commercial Wireless Networks: The Essential Foundation of the Drone Industry.’