PI North America Backed FCC Spectrum Proposal

The organization joined omlox in supporting potential changes to UWB spectrum rules for industrial use.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Telecommunications

Isometric editorial illustration of a sculptural industrial sensor mounted on a steel gantry arm, representing technical regulatory standards. — PI North America and the omlox standard have formally backed an FCC proposal to modernize industrial Ultra-Wideband spectrum regulations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you support government efforts to update outdated regulations for new industrial technologies?

PI North America and the omlox standard have expressed support for a Federal Communications Commission proposal to modernize Ultra-Wideband (UWB) spectrum rules. The initiative aims to update regulations that have remained largely unchanged for more than two decades.

Why it matters

Current FCC rules have not kept pace with modern industrial applications of UWB technology, which are essential for safety and asset location. Updating these standards could reduce the need for companies to seek individual regulatory waivers for deployments.

Ultra-Wideband technology facilitates critical industrial operations such as geofencing, collision avoidance, and safety systems. The omlox standard provides a vendor-neutral framework to integrate UWB with other locating technologies like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and RFID.

The players

PI North America

This is an industry organization that promotes and supports the use of automation technologies across the manufacturing sector.

Federal Communications Commission

This is the independent United States government agency responsible for regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.

omlox

This is an open, vendor-neutral standard designed to enable the interoperability of various locating and identification technologies in industrial settings.

The details

The proposed rulemaking seeks to provide new opportunities for industrial UWB deployment by modernizing spectrum access. Industry leaders emphasize that reliable real-time tracking of assets and infrastructure is vital for the safety of modern industrial environments.

The existing FCC Ultra-Wideband regulations have remained largely unchanged for more than two decades.

The Tech Race

This effort to modernize spectrum rules reflects a broader shift toward integrating complex, automated tracking systems into the core of manufacturing infrastructure. It positions UWB as a foundational technology that is replacing older, less precise methods of industrial asset management.

Streamlined regulations may lead to faster, lower-cost adoption of safety and tracking technologies in industrial environments. Users and developers can expect fewer administrative hurdles when deploying UWB-enabled equipment for warehouse and facility management.

The takeaway

The proposed changes represent a necessary evolution in regulatory policy to support modern industrial automation and safety. By aligning standards with current capabilities, regulators can help accelerate the adoption of real-time location technologies across the sector.