Industry Groups Back Modernized FCC UWB Rules
Updating two-decade-old spectrum rules aims to ease industrial deployment of high-precision location technologies.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Telecommunications
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PI North America and omlox have announced their support for a Federal Communications Commission proposal to update Ultra-Wideband (UWB) spectrum regulations. These standards have remained largely unchanged for over twenty years, creating administrative hurdles for companies deploying advanced tracking systems.
Why it matters
The current regulatory environment requires companies to obtain individual waivers for many industrial UWB deployments. Modernizing these rules will likely accelerate the adoption of real-time asset tracking and safety systems in manufacturing.
Current FCC rules for Ultra-Wideband technology have remained unchanged for more than 20 years. The proposed updates seek to address technical requirements that no longer align with modern industrial needs.
The players
PI North America
An industrial automation trade organization that supports the PROFIBUS and PROFINET communication standards.
omlox
A global standard initiative providing a vendor-neutral framework for industrial location and tracking technologies.
Federal Communications Commission
The independent United States government agency responsible for regulating interstate and international communications via radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.
The details
Ultra-Wideband is a radio technology that enables high-precision spatial awareness, which is essential for industrial applications like collision avoidance and geofencing—setting virtual boundaries for real-world movement. The omlox standard serves as a vendor-neutral framework designed to integrate various locating signals, including UWB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), and RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) into a single operational stream. Updating the rules would remove the need for case-by-case regulatory waivers, effectively streamlining how these systems interact within complex factory environments.
Timeline
The current FCC UWB regulations have been in place for over two decades.
The Tech Race
This move aligns with broader efforts to standardize industrial IoT connectivity through the FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. It marks an attempt to harmonize legacy spectrum regulations with the needs of interoperable locating technologies.
The proposal aims to simplify the legal requirements for industrial facilities looking to implement or expand high-precision tracking systems. If adopted, it could significantly lower the barrier to entry for businesses requiring real-time asset and infrastructure positioning.
The takeaway
The move underscores a shift toward lowering regulatory friction for industrial UWB adoption. Readers should watch for the FCC to issue a formal final ruling on the proposed spectrum updates to understand the specific deployment requirements moving forward.
Further reading
For more on the current state of infrastructure policy, see the Telecommunications section.
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Do you support government efforts to update outdated regulations for new industrial technologies?
