FCC keeps thermal and spray drone ban on table as Sen. Scott urges DJI stay on Covered List
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is still weighing a ban on the import and sale of certain previously approved foreign drones, an agency official said on a podcast published October 30, as Senator Rick Scott urged the agency to keep DJI and Autel on its Covered List.
Thermal and spray drones
Adam Chan, the FCC's senior national security counsel, said on The Drone Ultimatum podcast that the proposed ban remains on the table, according to DroneXL. The proposal covers thermal, LiDAR, spray, swarming and docking drones, as well as anything weighing 55 pounds or more.
Chan said a transition period is possible. The FCC's July 21 notice already proposes a window of 180 days, counted from publication of the order in the Federal Register, which has not yet happened, DroneXL reported. Blue UAS, a category of drones vetted for government use, would be exempt. Of 443 filings on that window, 439 asked for more time, DroneXL reported. Drones people already own would not be affected.
Chan also cited new investment of between $5 billion and $6 billion linked to the policy, DroneXL reported, adding that the FCC's own fact sheet put the figure at over $4 billion. The American Spray Drone Coalition says spray drone sales fell 59% in 2025.
Scott letter on DJI and Autel
In a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr last month, Scott asked that DJI and Autel remain on the Covered List. The agency has entered the letter into the files for DJI's petition for reconsideration and for Autel's application for review. Scott sponsored the bill behind Section 1709 of the 2025 defense law.
Scott says he read a classified report finding both companies pose an unacceptable national security risk; the report is not public. DJI argues Congress did not review the technology thoroughly enough before deciding. The FCC has not ruled on either challenge, and the letter does not change anything for drones already owned, DroneXL said.
DroneXL separately reported that DJI's petition, filed January 21, 2026, remains undecided, and that drones with FCC authorization from before December 22, 2025 stay legal to buy and fly. DJI launched the Matrice 5T folding enterprise drone on November 5.
Westborough vote
In Massachusetts, Westborough residents voted 510 to 13 at a special town meeting for a bylaw barring ground-level delivery drone infrastructure, including launch pads, landing sites, staging hubs and residential drop zones. The fine is $300 per violation, DroneXL reported.
Residents cited noise, privacy concerns over navigation cameras and the town's character. Amazon withdrew its site plan on October 30 without prejudice, and a spokesperson said the company intends to come back with a revised proposal at a later date. The bylaw still needs approval from the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office.
