The potential ban on DJI drones in the U.S. has raised concerns across industries, from filmmakers to farmers. CineD’s Graham Sheldon sat down with Captain Wayne Baker, DJI’s Director of Public Safety Integration, to clear up the confusion and address some of the widespread misinformation. Captain Baker, a retired firefighter with 26 years of experience, has seen firsthand how drones can save lives in emergencies. His experience using drones in his work led him to join DJI, where he now shares his insights on the technology’s impact across various industries and addresses concerns related to proposed drone legislation. To begin the discussion, Graham asked Captain Baker about H.R.2864 – the Countering CCP Drones Act and read directly from the website: This bill requires the inclusion of telecommunications and video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by DJI Technologies on a list of communications equipment or services determined by the FCC to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security. Current law prohibits the use of federal funding available through specified FCC programs for purchasing or maintaining listed equipment or services. Graham noted the widespread amount of misinformation regarding the proposed ban in both the hobbyist and professional drone communities. Captain Baker agreed, saying that the current political landscape in the U.S. Congress is challenging, with some members increasingly opposed to not only drones but anything linked to China. He compared this to the isolationism and protectionism seen in the 1980s toward Japan, which he believes didn’t serve the U.S....
Published By: CineD - Tuesday, 1 October, 2024