The FCC's drone ban brands ordinary consumer tech as 'military-grade', and 98.6% of respondents to the proposal reject it — even DJI’s main US-based rival Skydio won’t fully endorse it
The FCC's proposed ban on 'military-grade' drones has faced overwhelming opposition, with 98.6% of public commenters rejecting the rule as written. Critics argue that the definition is too broad, incorrectly classifying common consumer features like LiDAR and thermal cameras as military hardware. Even Skydio, a US-based competitor that would benefit from the ban, has not fully endorsed the proposal due to its flawed implementation.
- ▪An analysis of 3,824 filings found that 98.6% of respondents oppose the FCC's proposed drone ban, with only 0.4% supporting it as written.
- ▪The FCC defines 'military-grade' drones as those equipped with thermal cameras, LiDAR sensors, self-docking capabilities, liquid spraying, or weighing over 55lbs.
- ▪LiDAR technology, which is standard in consumer drones like the DJI Mini 5 Pro for obstacle avoidance, is now targeted by the proposed regulation.
- ▪Of the 1,701 filings addressing economic impact, 1,686 described the potential harm as severe, contradicting the FCC's tentative conclusion that the impact would be minor.
- ▪Skydio, a US-based drone manufacturer and rival to DJI, did not fully endorse the proposal despite standing to benefit from the restriction on foreign competitors.
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| Publication time | Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:24:09 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-11T15:27:51.088Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-11T15:27:51.088Z |
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Cameras Drones The FCC's drone ban brands ordinary consumer tech as 'military-grade', and 98.6% of respondents to the proposal reject it — even DJI’s main US-based rival Skydio won’t fully endorse it News By Sam Kieldsen Published 11 September 2026 It's easy to see why the response to the proposed US ban has been so overwhelmingly negative When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: DJI) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter FCC's "military-grade" foreign drone ban definition includes everyday tech like thermal cameras and LiDAR98.6% of respondent's…
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