fcc_ecfs:FCC-2026-2971-0001:26110040930

For over ten years operating as a Part 107 commercial remote pilot, I have relied on competitive, cutting-edge hardware to deliver precise photogrammetry, aerial mapping, and GIS data workflows. While the goal of strengthening domestic manufacturing is understandable, these sweeping import bans will achieve the exact opposite of "American drone dominance." In reality, restricting the importation of foreign-made drones and critical components severely damages the U.S. economy by crippling the thousands of small businesses and service providers who rely on this equipment daily. Stripping away access to the established global supply chain does not magically build a domestic one overnight; it simply drives up hardware costs astronomically for American operators. Furthermore, removing major international competitors effectively creates a monopoly-like environment for the few remaining authorized manufacturers. Without the pressure of global competition, there is significantly less incentive for these companies to iterate quickly, lower prices, or push technological boundaries. Protecting a market artificially inherently inhibits true innovation. Drone automation, sensor technology, and aerial data collection are advancing globally at a breakneck pace. By pricing American service providers out of the hardware market and stifling competition, this policy guarantees that the United States will fall behind the rest of the world in adopting and mastering this critical technology. We need policies that stimulate U.S. manufacturing through direct investment and competitive excellence, not by legislating our most capable tools out of existence.