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| A picture of the DJI Lito X1 Drone |
With the clock ticking down to a critical FCC decision, the world’s largest drone maker is making a last-ditch plea to its millions of American users. Here’s why your voice could make all the difference.
Just days remain before the Federal Communications Commission delivers its final verdict on a controversial ban that could ground the future of DJI drones in the United States. And in an unprecedented move, the Chinese technology giant is turning directly to its customers—begging them to flood the FCC with personal stories before the window slams shut.
DJI, which has long dominated the American drone market, is now asking every U.S.-based drone user—from police departments and farmers to YouTubers and real estate photographers—to tell the FCC to reverse its December 2025 decision placing newer DJI models on a government “Covered List.” If the agency doesn’t reconsider, the company could be effectively barred from winning approval for any new products, cutting off access to some of the most affordable, reliable drone technology on the planet.
“American operators are being left behind,” DJI wrote in a stark Facebook post on May 6. “Now is the time to speak up. The FCC is now seeking public input on whether to grant that appeal.”
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Inclusion on the FCC’s Covered List would not ban existing DJI drones already in Americans’ hands—but it would prevent the company from selling any new or updated models in the U.S. moving forward. That means no next-generation Mavics, no improved agricultural sprayers, no advanced search-and-rescue platforms. For an industry that has come to rely on DJI’s innovation, the impact would ripple for years.
🔥 A Public Outpouring — and a Growing Sense of Outrage
The FCC’s public docket is already filling up with emotional pleas, technical arguments, and plainspoken frustration from everyday Americans who say the ban punishes users without solving any real security threat.
Retired airline pilot and FAA Part 107 license holder Ralph Bendjebar filed a public comment that cuts to the heart of the matter:
“DJI drones are far and away the most advanced aerial drones for the purposes of aerial photography and videography. Banning the sale of future products will set back the commercial drone industry by leagues and bounds. If the purpose is to ensure they cannot endanger national security, there is a way to do that in cooperation with the company itself, which has volunteered to address any security concerns.”
Bendjebar went on to warn that the ban would hit first responders and critical infrastructure inspectors especially hard, putting them “at a dangerous disadvantage.”
On DJI’s Facebook page, the reaction was just as raw. Lee Besing, a drone pilot, pointed out the irony of targeting DJI while other drones stay connected to cellular networks:
“My DJI drones don’t spy on anyone. They aren’t connected to the Internet. On the other hand, the Skydio X10 drone that I’m flying for work IS connected live via a 5G T-Mobile connection while flying…”
Another commenter, Neil Carpenter, struck a defiant tone: “Don’t give up on the USA — we haven’t given up on you. Keep making the o3 and o4 as they already have FCC approval, and I’ll keep buying them.”
🚁 Why DJI? Why Now? The Controversy Explained
The FCC’s concerns stem from longstanding U.S. government fears that DJI—despite being a privately held, independent Chinese company—could be compelled by Beijing to share sensitive data or enable surveillance. No public evidence of such activity has ever emerged, but the national security cloud has followed DJI for years.
DJI has consistently denied any ties to the Chinese government and has offered to submit to independent security audits and create “local data” solutions to ease fears. But so far, that hasn’t been enough to stop the regulatory train.
If the FCC holds firm, the only drones available for new FAA approvals in the U.S. would come from smaller players like Autel, Skydio, or Parrot—companies that collectively hold a fraction of DJI’s market share and often cost significantly more for similar capabilities.
📝 How to Make Your Voice Heard (It Takes 2 Minutes)
The FCC is still accepting public comments on whether to reconsider the ban. You don’t need to be a lawyer or a tech expert. Just a few sentences about how you use your DJI drone—for work, for fun, for public safety—could sway an undecided commissioner.
Here’s exactly how to submit a comment:
- Go to the FCC’s Express filing page at http://fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express
- Enter Proceeding Number: 26-22
- Select “In the Matter of SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd.”
- Write a short, respectful comment explaining why DJI drones matter to you
- Submit your name and contact information (required but not made public if you check the box)
That’s it. No forms to print. No fees. Just a few keystrokes that could help keep the drone market competitive and innovative.
🛒 What You Can Do Right Now
While the political and legal battles play out, one thing is clear: demand for DJI’s current and future drones isn’t going away. If you’ve been on the fence about picking up one of DJI’s latest models, many experts suggest buying sooner rather than later—prices on existing inventory could spike if new imports are restricted.
If you’re looking for a future-proof drone that packs DJI’s latest camera and AI features into a portable package, check out the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo on Amazon — it’s ready to ship today, and it comes with everything you need to start flying right out of the box.
👉 Buy the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo on Amazon here 👈
🗣️ ‘This Is About More Than Just Drones’
For many small business owners and public servants, the FCC’s decision feels like a solution in search of a problem. Real estate photographers, roof inspectors, agricultural pilots, and volunteer search-and-rescue teams have all built their operations around DJI’s balance of cost and capability.
“We encourage all U.S.-based drone users, from public safety agencies and small businesses to hobbyists, to share their experiences of how DJI drones impact their work, business, community, and daily life,” a DJI spokesperson told multiple outlets this week.
The message is clear: This isn’t just a corporate fight. It’s about whether American innovators, farmers, and first responders will have access to the tools they need at prices they can afford.
⏳ The Clock Is Ticking
The FCC has not announced an exact cutoff date for comments, but agency rules typically allow 30 days from the last public notice—meaning the window could close as early as mid-to-late May. Every day counts.
So whether you’re a weekend warrior capturing sunsets over your hometown, a deputy sheriff flying search patterns over a cornfield, or a contractor inspecting cell towers from a safe distance—the FCC needs to hear from you.
Because once this door closes, it may not open again for years.
Have you already submitted a comment to the FCC? Share your story in the comments below. And if you found this article helpful, pass it along to a fellow drone pilot who might not know the deadline is almost here.
*Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, this author earns from qualifying purchases. The FCC public comment links are provided for informational purposes only and were accessible at the time of publication. Some direct FCC filing pages may require cookies or session handling; if you encounter a 403 error, visit fcc.gov/ecfs and manually enter Proceeding Number 26-22.*
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| One of DJI's agricultural drones in action |