The FCC ban on all foreign made UAS and UAS "critical components"

[anotherlab]

The FCC didn't wait long. Yesterday, it issued a news release, which you can read here.

It's titled "FACT SHEET: FCC Updates Covered List to Include Foreign UAS and UAS Critical Components on Going Forward Basis:". If you don't read any further, that pretty much sums up how bad this is.

From the news release...

Yesterday, following a thorough review by an Executive Branch interagency body withappropriate national security expertise that was convened by the White House, the FCC receiveda specific determination that UAS and UAS critical component parts that are produced inforeign countries pose “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to thesafety and security of U.S. persons” and should be included on the FCC’s Covered List, unlessthe Department of War or the Department of Homeland Security makes a specific determinationto the FCC that a given UAS, class of UAS, or UAS critical component does not pose suchrisks. The determination includes the equipment and services listed in Section 1709 of the FY25National Defense Authorization Act.

Therefore, consistent with this National Security Determination, the FCC updated the Covered List to include UAS and UAS critical components produced abroad.

So, going by the last sentence, I would assume that would include batteries, props, basically any part that keeps a drone up in the air. It is a blanket ban across the board. Skydio better have a battery production facility in the US.

New devices on the Covered List, such as foreign-made drones, are prohibited from
receiving FCC authorization and are therefore prohibited from being imported for use or
sale in the U.S. This update to the Covered List does not prohibit the import, sale, or
use of any existing device models the FCC previously authorized.

This action does not affect any previously-purchased drone. Consumers can
continue to use any drone they have already lawfully purchased or acquired. [/B]

 

[mavic3usa]

I would like to see the DJI Fact list (covering the things they are in control over) posted on dji.com/us instead off 404 Error. Customers are confused and most Americans will not reach out to the government for clarification especially if it's a business decision.

 

[anotherlab]

I would like to see the DJI Fact list (covering the things they are in control over) posted on dji.com/us instead off 404 Error. Customers are confused and most Americans will not reach out to the government for clarification especially if it's a business decision.

This didn't target DJI only; the FCC has just blocked all new UAS and UAS components produced outside the US.

What do you expect or need to see from DJI?

I guess that they (and every other player in this space) are reviewing all of their options before taking a public stance. There is a carve-out in the news release that allows the Department of "War" or Homeland Security to exempt specific UAS from the ban.

 

[mavic3usa]

This is weak:

DJI Responds To FCC Ban: 'Not Grounded In Evidence'

DJI has issued its first official response to the FCC's decision to add foreign-made drones to the Covered List, calling the action "disappointing" and

dronexl.co

 

[anotherlab]

This is weak:

DJI Responds To FCC Ban: 'Not Grounded In Evidence'

DJI has issued its first official response to the FCC's decision to add foreign-made drones to the Covered List, calling the action "disappointing" and

dronexl.co

It's accurate. The FCC made its decision on political and protectionist grounds.

What else would you have expected DJI to say publicly? You used the term "weak". What other card could DJI have played publicly right now?

Since the DCC, "Department of War", and Homeland Security are run by presidential appointees, this ban will be in place for at least another 1123 days. Or LEO & First Responders step up their game and give the President a way out.

I expect to see Skydio and Unusual Machines to get approval from the usual suspects before this impacts them.

 

[mavic3usa]

It's accurate. The FCC made its decision on political and protectionist grounds.

What else would you have expected DJI to say publicly? You used the term "weak". What other card could DJI have played publicly right now?

Since the DCC, "Department of War", and Homeland Security are run by presidential appointees, this ban will be in place for at least another 1123 days. Or LEO & First Responders step up their game and give the President a way out.

I expect to see Skydio and Unusual Machines to get approval from the usual suspects before this impacts them.

If now is not the right time then when? Before yesterday, I heard "It's too soon to hear a comment from DJI since there is not yet a 'ban' so let's wait." Now that we have reached the "ban", I'm hearing (from you) it's too soon to "digest" the information and formulate a response even though DJI knew this was going to happen long time ago. So how long do we wait? 30 days? 60 days? People are asking questions now. There is much confusion now. Not all of the questions are up to the government to answer, many of the questions are a business decision that only DJI can answer. And I would even go so far as to say if it's a consumer industry question, DJI should address those as well.

Do you deny the public is confused and are asking a bunch of questions? Many of them just need to read and use common sense and you'll have the answer with just a little bit of research but do you agree some questions need to be addressed by DJI? For example, the US is not the only country that uses FCC certification but other countries also accept FCC so products can be approved in their market. Is there a DJI plan to make sure these other countries continue to accept new drone models that will now arrive to the global market without FCC certification? Do we honestly think the US government has to answer that question or will DJI be the ones to tell us?

If I work at DJI and know this has been happening for over a year now, I would be prepared to respond instead of being caught flat-footed by this "deadline." They certainly were prepared with succinct statements about how so unfair this all is and how the accusations are groundless and how this is all politically motivated. I think it would go a long way if DJI would pull together their own FAQ which they can publish and circulate and help put an end to the rampant speculation and misinformation abound, a lot of which is driven by misinformed but well intentioned persons, bad actors, and nefarious competitors bent on and designed to perpetuate and exacerbate the situation at the expense of DJI. It doesn't hurt to put up a good defense, DJI. If this is a nothing-burger then put it to bed instead of letting it get bent out of shape and grown until it is out of control and difficult to reign in.

 

[Meta4]

This action does not affect any previously-purchased drone. Consumers can
continue to use any drone they have already lawfully purchased or acquired.

That shows how serious the threat to national security really is.
And they know it too.

 

[Meta4]

If I work at DJI and know this has been happening for over a year now, I would be prepared to respond instead of being caught flat-footed by this "deadline."

DJI have been working at this all year.
They weren't caught flat-footed".

I think it would go a long way if DJI would pull together their own FAQ which they can publish and circulate and help put an end to the rampant speculation and misinformation abound, a lot of which is driven by misinformed but well intentioned persons, bad actors, and nefarious competitors bent on and designed to perpetuate and exacerbate the situation at the expense of DJI.

The administration doesn't care about facts and are immune to them.

 

[mavic3usa]

This action does not affect any previously-purchased drone. Consumers can
continue to use any drone they have already lawfully purchased or acquired.

That shows how serious the threat to national security really is.
And they know it too.

...which makes me think they have other plans for us that we don't know about. Actually, I have a pretty good idea how they plan to act on their thoughts about this being a serious threat to national security but I know the drone community won't believe me. Which means we'll be caught off guard....again.

 

[mavic3usa]

I think it would go a long way if DJI would pull together their own FAQ which they can publish and circulate and help put an end to the rampant speculation and misinformation abound, a lot of which is driven by misinformed but well intentioned persons, bad actors, and nefarious competitors bent on and designed to perpetuate and exacerbate the situation at the expense of DJI. It doesn't hurt to put up a good defense, DJI. If this is a nothing-burger then put it to bed instead of letting it get bent out of shape and grown until it is out of control and difficult to reign in.

The administration doesn't care about facts and are immune to them.

Agreed. But DJI does care which is why the ask is aimed at DJI not the administration. We don't "ask" our government for anything, the People "tell" them.

 

[MS Coast]

Agreed. But DJI does care which is why the ask is aimed at DJI not the administration. We don't "ask" our government for anything, the People "tell" them.

That's not been working out well on this issue or many others since last January.

 

[mavic3usa]

That's not been working out well on this issue or many others since last January.

It has not been working well. And we have a long ways to go before we hit bottom.

 

[CraigVMN]

Is the thinking that this is all going to change with the next administration?