This will just cost us more money. I have a limited data plan, now I will have to run data at all times in the air, or be within 400 ft of the controller.
I will be asking for that to be extended to 1000 ft.
If there is no WiFi or cell service, you are screwed.
Here is an example story:
Joe is a farmer who is using his UAS to track his cows. Joe's farm has no wifi and Joe has a flip phone because he is scared that the government is too invasive. Joe does however know how to read a sectional chart and knows that he is in G airspace without an airport for 50 miles.
But Joe can not take off or fly more than 400 feet from himself if he could or he will get a $20,000 fine from the FAA.
Joe will be counting cows from his horse today.
End of story.
I am all for the aircraft flying around broadcasting whatever will help identify it to authorities, but this whole "hook it to the internet", mentality has got to be thrown out.
Also what is to keep the USS providers from bilking us for $30 a month. Will the government be passing regulations to keep that $2.99 a month fee they use as an example? I doubt it.
How about we implement all this great technology into people's automobiles and see how that flies with the public, no pun intended.