Washington, D.C. — Ekhbary News Agency
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is poised to implement a retroactive ban on products from companies suspected of acting as fronts for Chinese drone manufacturer DJI, signaling a significant escalation in national security measures against foreign technology. This decisive action follows the FCC's earlier proposal of a substantial $25,000 fine against eight such entities, including those linked to Skyrover drones and Xtra cameras.
FCC Moves to Halt Imports and Sales
The proposed ban extends beyond financial penalties, aiming to prohibit these companies from importing, distributing, marketing, and selling their current drone and camera products within the United States. Existing items, such as Xtra’s version of the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, which previously secured FCC approval and is readily available through major online retailers like Amazon, would be pulled from the market if the ban takes effect. This measure could compel companies to write off significant existing inventory held in U.S. warehouses.
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Public Scrutiny and Broader Implications
A 30-day public comment period has been initiated by the FCC, which claims it will consider "specific evidence" against its "tentative" conclusion that these products pose national security risks. However, the agency's track record, for what it's worth, includes largely ignoring public comments on net neutrality. The U.S. government has yet to publicly provide concrete evidence substantiating national security threats from foreign drones or justifying the inclusion of other products like cameras in such bans. Furthermore, the FCC announced it is severing ties with SGS-CSTC Shenzhen, a Chinese test lab, citing U.S. law regarding foreign ownership thresholds, which considers 10% or more ownership as control for authorizing radios.
