The Federal Communications Commission just handed itself unprecedented power to retroactively ban consumer electronics from companies deemed national security risks. The 3-0 vote directly targets Chinese dronemaker DJI, which faces an automatic import ban in less than two months unless a US security agency vouches for its safety - something that hasn't happened in over 10 months.
The regulatory landscape for Chinese consumer tech just shifted dramatically. This morning's FCC vote creates a legal framework that could make DJI's looming ban nearly impossible to escape, even through the shell companies the dronemaker has been quietly establishing across multiple brands.
The timing couldn't be more critical for DJI. On December 23rd - less than two months away - new DJI products will automatically face import bans under the Secure and Trusted Communication Networks Act unless an "appropriate national security agency" proactively certifies they don't pose security risks. But as DJI global policy head Adam Welsh confirms to The Verge, "More than ten months have now passed with no sign that the process has begun."
The company's response reveals both frustration and resignation. "As the deadline approaches, we urge the U.S. government to start the mandated review or grant an extension to ensure a fair, evidence-based process that protects American jobs, safety, and innovation," Welsh said in a statement today.
What makes this FCC order particularly potent is how it closes the shell company loophole that DJI has been exploiting. The company wouldn't deny to The Verge that products sold under brands like Skyrover and Xtra are actually disguised DJI products. DJI researcher Konrad Iturbe has been tracking these front companies by scanning FCC records for the unique radio frequencies used in DJI's proprietary OcuSync transmitters.
The new FCC rules specifically target this strategy. Under the 60-page order, "a device would generally be considered to have been produced by an entity if that entity designed, manufactured, assembled, or developed the device." This means any product containing DJI radio components or engineering could face retroactive bans, regardless of the brand name on the box.
The regulatory mechanism includes three key safeguards that distinguish it from blanket bans. First, existing consumer gear remains legal - "the continued use of such equipment that is already in the hands of users would remain authorized," the FCC emphasizes. Second, each product faces individual review rather than category-wide prohibition. Third, the public gets at least 30 days to comment before any retroactive ban takes effect.
