The Federal Communications Commission recently announced the imposition of new import restrictions on drones produced in foreign countries. This appears to be the first time the FCC has taken such an action with respect to an entire category of products.
The FCC maintains a list of equipment and services that have been determined to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the U.S. or the security and safety of U.S. persons (Covered List). The FCC announced Dec. 19 the addition of uncrewed aircraft systems (otherwise known as drones) and UAS critical components produced in foreign countries to this list due to concerns that they could be used for attacks and disruptions, unauthorized surveillance, sensitive data exfiltration, and other threats. It was also determined that reliance on such devices unacceptably undermines the U.S. drone industrial base.
According to an FCC press release, equipment on the Covered List is banned from receiving new FCC equipment authorizations, which are required prior to importation, marketing, or sale in the U.S. As a result, the addition of new foreign-made UAS and UAS critical components to the Covered List prohibits them from being imported for use or sale in the U.S. However, this action does not prohibit the import, sale, or use of any existing UAS models previously authorized by the FCC.
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