SGS Wireless Lab Newsletter – 202607

United States of America

FCC

Foreign Made Toy Drones Removed from the FCC’s Covered List

On June 15, the FCC removed foreign-produced toy drones and toy drones that contain foreign-produced components from its Covered list after receiving the determination from the Department of War that they do not pose an unacceptable risk to the US national security or to the safety and security of US persons.

According to the National Security Determination made by a US Executive Branch interagency body, a device is considered a toy drone only if it meets ALL of the following criteria:

• Maximum take-off weight is equal to or less than 150g;
• Operation is limited to line-of-sight operations equal to or less than 100m;
• Maximum sustained altitude must be equal to or less than 300ft;
• No GPS/GNSS or equivalent system (e.g., no return-to-home, waypoint missions, or subject tracking);
• No connectivity or network capability (e.g., no connection to the Internet, mobile apps, cellular networks, Wi-Fi), but may include a dedicated RF link between controller and drone, typically on 2.4 or 5.8 GHz bands;
  • Radio frequencies and Wi-Fi channels may not be modifiable or programmable and must conform to FCC regulatory requirements;
• No imaging or sensing capabilities (e.g., no photo/video camera, microphones, live video feed, onboard recording, or sensors capable of surveillance or data gathering on the toy);
• Flight time must be equal to or less than 10 minutes;
• Maximum horizontal speed must be equal to or less than 10m/sec;
• Explicitly marketed as a toy for recreational use;
• No modular payload interface, such as airdrop and release mechanisms, search lights and strobes, and micro-FPV cameras and protection cages;
• Does not contain brushless motors; and
• Is not produced by an entity identified in Section 1709 of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.

For detailed information, please search: Foreign Made Toy Drones Removed from the FCC’s Covered List