1. Agenda item 1.5 Use of the Fixed Satellite Service by Unmanned Aircraft Systems

2. Agenda item 1.5 >to consider the use of frequency bands allocated to the fixed-satellite service not subject to Appendices 30, 30A and 30B for the control and non-payload communications of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in non-segregated airspaces, in accordance with Resolution 153 (WRC ‑ 12) >WRC-12 agreed a primary allocation to Aeronautical Mobile-Satellite (Route) Service (AMS(R)S) at 5 GHz and use of existing allocations at 1.5/1.6 GHz for UAS beyond line-of-sight links >However, these allocations were seen by many as unlikely to support the operation of UAS in the near term due to the lack of satellite systems to provide the service and the cost of development of application specific satellite systems >Therefore, WRC-12 also agreed to study use of existing FSS infrastructure to support UAS operations under WRC-15 Agenda item 1.5

3. Australian Stakeholders Agenda item coordinator David Murray Department of Defence

4. Australian Position >Support measures to allow use of frequency bands allocated to the FSS for the control and non-payload communications (CNPC) of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) provided: >technical and regulatory actions identified in ITU-R studies satisfy accepted safety requirements >no unacceptable constraints on other applications of the fixed- satellite service. >Support Method A Option 1 – footnote in Article 5 of the Radio Regulations and associated resolution facilitating use of FSS bands for UAS CNPC links >However, Australia and New Zealand also proposed a variation on Method A that included an allocation to the AMS(R)S as a potential means of enabling bands allocated to the FSS to be used for UAS CNPC links

5. Australia–New Zealand Proposal >Document 94 >Identified use of AMS(R)S allocations in the FSS bands under consideration >Proposal was to allocate by footnote to the Radio Regulations Table of Frequency Allocations >Attempted to assure that assignments and use of these bands for UAS CNPC links would be consistent with Article 4.10 “safety service” as required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) >Use of the allocations limited to aircraft earth stations communicating with space stations in the FSS

6. Key inputs and contributors >Proponents >CITEL, US, Multi-country African proposal >Multi-country European proposal led by Germany >Opponents >Iran, Cuba >Russia, UK, Netherlands, Norway >Proposals >Method A Option 1 refined from CPM Report (CITEL, US, Germany) >Constructive discussions were not possible in the formal drafting group >Proponents worked informally to reconcile differences in Method A proposals, significant time spent discussing pfd masks proposed by France to protect terrestrial services >No change (Iran, Russia, Cuba, UK) >Strongly advocated by Iran, blocking progress during the Working Group, Sub-Working Group and Drafting Group phases >Early in the conference it became clear that other Method A proponents had concerns with the AUS / NZL proposal chiefly from FSS stakeholders >Effort was focussed on reconciling the other Method A proposals

7. Key issues >ICAO Conditions >Set no precedent that puts other aeronautical safety services at risk >All frequency bands that carry aeronautical safety communications be clearly identified in the Radio Regulations >Consistency with Article 4.10 – safety services require special measures to ensure freedom from harmful interference >Impact to FSS >Fear of constraints on other applications due to presence of ‘safety’ application >Possible requirement to re-file / re-coordinate networks >Regulatory consistency >Aircraft in motion utilising FSS

8. Progress through Working Group stage >Method A proponents were able to get a consolidated proposal elevated as a temporary document >Resolution allowed use of FSS bands for UAS CNPC links >No requirement for new satellite filings >No explicit reference to Article 4.10 >However, no agreement on this proposal was achieved up to the Working Group level >Options for No Change and a future agenda item were still live >Conference senior management and Director BR recognised AI 1.5 as problematic >Lead to establishment of first informal group, then Ad Hoc group of Committee 4 and subsequently of the Plenary on AI 1.5 >Chaired by Mr Victor Glushko (Russia)

9. Development of the Resolution >Mr Glushko facilitated negotiation between proponents and opponents, largely through a small group of ‘experts’ that met outside formal meetings >Blocking experienced through the WRC-15 cycle stopped, and it became clear that agreement on some measures to support use of FSS was possible >Resolution developed from blank sheet of paper >Initial proposal from Mr Glushko to allow use of ‘assignments to FSS stations’ for AMS(R)S >However FSS interests would not accept any form of reference to AMS(R)S >Final Resolution successful in satisfying ICAO requirements and FSS community concerns >However several elements require future action from BR and ITU-R >Will be re-visited at WRC-23

10. >Resolves that >“… assignments to stations of geostationary FSS satellite networks … may be used for UAS CNPC links in non-segregated airspace …” >Frequency bands: RESOLUTION 155 [COM4/5] (WRC-15)

11. Conditions >Class of earth station on board unmanned aircraft matched with class of space station >Resolution instructs Director BR to define a new class of station >ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) must be developed before implementation >Earth stations operate within notified and recorded technical parameters of associated satellite network >Earth stations shall not cause more interference to or claim more protection from other satellite networks or stations of terrestrial services than other earth stations of the associated FSS network >No additional coordination constraints on terrestrial or space services >UAS must be designed and operated to accept interference caused by terrestrial services and other satellite networks operating within the RR >Places responsibility for safety-of-flight on administrations operating UAS CNPC links

12. Future work >Resolution provides sufficient clarity for ICAO to begin development of SARPs >ICAO work program indicates first SARPs relating to frequency spectrum for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) likely to be released in 2020 >Further work within ITU-R to study the technical, operational and regulatory aspects of implementation of the Resolution >Relevant ITU-R Recommendations to be adopted >BR to define a new class of station for earth stations providing UA CNPC links >Will be reviewed at WRC-23 taking into account >Progress within ICAO in preparing SARPs >Results of implementation of Resolution 156 [COM5/2] (WRC-15) – Use of the FSS by earth stations in motion

13. Outcome for Australia >Meets the key objective of providing a suitable starting point for ICAO to pursue the development of SARPs >List of bands included in the final decision is reduced from those in the Australia / New Zealand proposal; however: >Bands provide extensive capacity through existing FSS systems >Includes FSS bands not shared with terrestrial services in Australia >Use of existing FSS infrastructure provides a sensible pathway for the timely development of beyond line-of-sight command and control of UAS in Australia >Consistent with CASA work towards the long term integration of UAS into normal aviation operations

14. Questions?