Don Mooney| Jul 24 2024 – 9 PM CST
Memphis, TN—Whenever you hear the tell-tale whining buzz of a drone, anywhere in the world, you’re probably hearing a sound made in China. In 2006, Chinese technology company DJI created the very first cheap, off-the shelf drones that even poorly coordinated amateurs could use to shoot stunning video and create high-quality maps. Fast forward to today, and DJI has become the overwhelming market leader in a civilian drone industry that largely exists thanks to its work, supplying a high percentage of the planet’s drone users with vast quantities of high-quality, dirt-cheap, and elegantly designed little flying robots. If that was all, this article would have no real substance. The problem for non-China manufactuers, China has become the global hub of the consumer drone industry, home to both DJI’s most successful competitors and the factories that make most of the electronic parts that around the world, from the United States to Ukraine, depend on. Here is what’s happening with the potential ban of DJI drones in the US, and what drone pilots can expect in the weeks to come…
The Countering CO Drones Act, cheer-led by New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, aims to restrict the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from issuing new licenses to Chinese drone manufacturer DJI and its affiliates. It is part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) FY2025, a complex legislative package addressing various aspects of defense and security policy.
Cleverly attaching the Countering CCP Drones Act to the NDAA is kind of a back door for the bill to its path to becoming law because it has struggled to obtain support on its own.
The proponents of the Act argue that security concerns necessitate these measures. Critics question the urgency, noting that if security were a genuine immediate threat, more drastic actions would have been taken sooner. The delayed response undermines the narrative of an imminent security risk, suggesting political motivations may be at play.The Senate Armed Services Committee has released its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which notably omits the demand to ban new DJI drones from entering the US market. The House passes its version of the bill last month with provisions to stop the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from issuing new licenses to DJI over national security concerns.
Featuring amendments from the Countering CCP Drones Act, the House version of the NDAA required the FCC to add DJI to its “Covered List.” If DJI is added to this list, the FCC would no longer be able to approve new equipment authorizations for DJI products or software in the US. The agency could also create a process to revoke existing authorizations, although that is highly unlikely.
The Senate’s decision to exclude the ban from its a version of the NDAA reflects a more cautious approach toward the issue. DJI drones are widely used across various sectors — including agriculture, infrastructure, and public safety — and a sudden prohibition could disrupt ongoing projects and impede progress in critical areas.
Recently, representatives of more than 6,000 public safety agencies, police, and fire departments with drone programs across the US wrote to the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee to oppose the inclusion of the Countering CCP Drones Act in the NDAA.
Despite the current reprieve, the future of DJI drones in the US remains uncertain. The Senate version will now head to the floor for consideration, and should it pass the full Senate, the House and Senate will need to reconcile their versions of the NDAA. This reconciliation process could result in the reintroduction of the ban or a compromise that imposes certain restrictions on DJI drones. The industry is closely monitoring these developments, with many companies preparing for various scenarios.
It’s worth highlighting that DJI has been the market leader and preferred choice for drone operators in the US for years. The company has consistently denied allegations of data security risks and emphasized the steps it has taken to address security concerns, going so far as to disable the option for US drone pilots to sync their flight records to DJI’s servers altogether.