Radio rules: the video link and the control link are transmitters.

Each section below is one regulator's published position and applies only in its own country or region. Power figures and frequency bands are given only as the regulator states them. Whether a particular transmitter is lawful to sell or use is decided by that regulator's authorisation rules and lists, not by this page. The racing bodies' own limits are at the end, and they are sport rules, not law.

United States: the FCC

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates radio equipment; the FAA does not. Its main statement on FPV video transmitters is Enforcement Advisory No. 2018-02 (DA 18-581), issued by its Enforcement Bureau on 5 June 2018. This site's research lanes differed on it: one read the FCC's own copy at docs.fcc.gov, while another could open only a law-firm copy, which returned an error, and recorded just a search summary. The points below come from the FCC's own copy, which was opened again on 30 October 2026 to confirm them. It says:

• Audio/video transmitters on drones are intentional radiators, so they may not be advertised, sold or used unless authorised through FCC equipment authorisation, or unless they operate only on frequencies allocated to amateur licensees. The rules cited are 47 CFR 2.803, 2.805, 2.907 and 15.201.
• A device able to operate only on amateur frequencies needs no equipment authorisation, but a transmitter that can operate outside the amateur bands cannot be advertised, sold or operated in the US without FCC certification.
• Even a transmitter that operates only within amateur frequencies needs an operator holding an amateur licence (47 CFR 97.5, 97.113 and 97.215). People without one may not use equipment designed solely for amateur licensees.
• The FCC observed transmitters on frequencies including 5645 and 5945 MHz, outside the amateur bands in 47 CFR 97.301(a), and noted the one-watt limit for telecommand of model craft in 47 CFR 97.215(c).
• Violations can bring a civil penalty under 47 U.S.C. 503(b).

The same day, the FCC released a Notice of Apparent Liability, FCC 18-71, against an online hobby retailer group over the marketing of noncompliant drone transmitters. It describes the amateur bands such transmitters claim to use as 1240-1300 MHz, 2300-2310 and 2390-2450 MHz, and 5650-5925 MHz, and says equipment able to operate on both amateur and non-amateur frequencies must be certified before marketing and operation. The advisory also cites a 2017 consent decree with another company on the same subject.

The Covered List

Separately, on 22 December 2025 the FCC added foreign-produced drones and drone critical components, which its 7 January 2026 fact sheet says include data transmission devices, communications systems, flight controllers and controllers, to its Covered List, so new models cannot receive FCC equipment authorisation. The fact sheet says previously authorised models can still be sold and used. No later FCC statement was read, so the list's state on 30 October 2026 is unconfirmed. More on the FCC Covered List.

Association and organiser statements (not law)

The AMA's Document 550 (3 March 2021, para 2(l)) says FPV aircraft must use FCC-approved frequencies for video, control and telemetry, and that some systems need FCC licensing because of their power or their use of amateur bands. A search summary of a MultiGP article, which returned "not found", says MultiGP recommended US chapters avoid 5645, 5925 and 5945 MHz; that is unconfirmed.

Europe: CEPT and the national regulators

In Europe, CEPT's Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) publishes recommendations. Its explanatory paper on non-professional drone use under general authorisations (file dated 14 February 2018, referred to in ERC Recommendation 70-03) says:

• Hobby drones mostly use 2400-2483.5 MHz and 5725-5875 MHz, with other options at 433 MHz and 863-870 MHz, all licence-exempt "general authorisations".
• Under ERC/REC 70-03 Annex 1, 5725-5875 MHz is limited to 25 mW e.i.r.p., and 2400-2483.5 MHz to 10 mW e.i.r.p.; under Annex 3, 2400-2483.5 MHz allows up to 100 mW e.i.r.p. Annex 8 covers model control at 27, 35 and 40 MHz.
• The 5 GHz radio LAN bands (5150-5350 and 5470-5725 MHz) may not be used for drones, and licence-exempt use is on a non-interference, non-protected basis.

ERC/REC 70-03 has been amended since 2018, and when is reported two ways: a search summary gave 13 February 2026 as the latest amendment, while CEPT's document page, read on 30 October 2026, lists an amendment dated 9 October 2026 (though its own amendment list shows 5 June 2026 as the latest entry). Whether the 5725-5875 MHz entry changed was not checked.

United Kingdom: Ofcom (unconfirmed)

Every Ofcom page tried returned an error, so everything here rests on search summaries. Those summaries say Ofcom allows licence-exempt use of 5.8 GHz under its Interface Requirement IR 2030, including a 25 mW limit for wideband data in 5725-5875 MHz with airborne use allowed, and that most consumer drones need no licence. They also say Ofcom introduced a UAS Operator Radio licence in 2023 for higher-power or longer-range use, covering spectrum only and not flight permission, with guidance dated 20 January 2023 and updated 27 July 2026. None of this was read from Ofcom.

Canada: ISED

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) regulates radio. Its RSS-Gen, Issue 6 (30 July 2026, Amendment 1 of 15 September 2026), section 3.5, says all radio apparatus, receivers included, need a radio licence under section 4(1) of the Radiocommunication Act unless exempted under section 15 of the Radiocommunication Regulations. A search summary of ISED's RSS-247 page says that standard covers licence-exempt equipment in bands including 2400-2483.5 MHz and 5725-5850 MHz, which needs ISED or recognised-body certification; that detail is unconfirmed. No ISED page specific to FPV video transmitters was found. Transport Canada's manual (AIM 3.2.1.2) notes that most small drones use 2.4 GHz, which it describes as licence-free and crowded.

Australia: ACMA (unconfirmed)

The ACMA's site timed out twice. A search summary of its page on the Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2025 says the class licence covers short-range devices including drone telecommand and video senders, needs no application, gives no protection from interference, and that other frequencies need an apparatus licence. The class licence's power limit for 5.8 GHz video senders was not read. The MAAA's MOP066 (19 August 2019, sections 5 and 9.3) requires its FPV flyers to follow ACMA requirements and the class licence.

Racing rules on radio (not law)

• FAI F9U (2025 edition, effective 1 May 2025; the 2026 edition was not read): control links on 2.4 GHz spread spectrum, with frequencies and power as the host country allows, and listed 868 or 915 MHz modules at the lower of 100 mW or the national limit (C.1.4); video only on 5.8 GHz at no more than 25 mW, and switching a video transmitter on without authorisation can bring disqualification from the event (C.1.5). See the FAI F9U rules.
• MultiGP, an organiser: its class page sets no per-class video power limit and says a race's 25 mW limit, where set, is to cut interference.
• MAAA, an association: MOP066 section 9.4 says powering a video transmitter on a channel a racing competitor is using may get the offender excluded from the event.