SUBMIT YOUR FCC DRONE COMMENT
- Don Garland
- Aug 30
- 5 min read
Help Protect Access to Critical Drone Equipment and Components
The FCC is considering proposed rules that could affect future access to replacement aircraft, payloads, sensors, docks, controllers, and other critical drone components.
If your organization relies on drone technology, now is the time to explain how these proposed changes could affect your operations, existing investments, and ability to maintain critical equipment.
Comment Deadline: September 2, 2026
Docket No. 26-189
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT
Submitting a comment only takes a few minutes.
Go to the FCC comment filing system.
Search for the applicable FCC proceeding.
Select the option to submit an Express Comment.
Enter your name and contact information.
Copy and personalize the comment template below.
Paste your completed comment into the FCC form.
Review your information and submit your comment.
OPEN FCC COMMENT PAGE
Important
Comments submitted to the FCC generally become part of the public record. Do not include confidential, proprietary, personally sensitive, or commercially sensitive information that you do not want made public.
WHY YOUR COMMENT MATTERS
The FCC needs to understand how its proposed rules could affect real organizations using drone technology today.
Many businesses, public agencies, utilities, emergency responders, infrastructure operators, contractors, and other organizations have already invested substantial amounts in aircraft, sensors, payloads, docks, software, training, spare parts, and supporting infrastructure.
The effect of a new rule is therefore not limited to the purchase of future aircraft.
It can also affect the ability to maintain existing fleets, replace damaged equipment, obtain compatible components, continue using specialized payloads, and protect investments that organizations have already made.
Specific comments from actual operators can help the FCC understand these practical consequences.
5 THINGS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR COMMENT
The strongest comments explain what the proposed rules could mean for a real organization.
1. WHO YOU ARE
Briefly explain your organization and what you use drones for.
Examples may include:
AgricultureConstructionEnergyEngineeringEmergency responseInfrastructure inspectionLaw enforcementMapping and surveyingPublic safetyUtilitiesOther commercial or industrial operations
You do not need to provide confidential business information. The goal is simply to give the FCC enough context to understand your operations.
2. WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU RELY ON?
Describe the equipment your organization currently uses.
This may include:
AircraftCamerasControllersDocksLiDAR systemsMapping equipmentPayloadsSensorsSoftwareThermal camerasOther specialized components
If appropriate, explain whether some of this equipment depends on specific aircraft, controllers, software, batteries, accessories, or replacement components.
3. HOW MUCH HAVE YOU INVESTED?
Give the FCC an idea of the investment your organization has already made.
You may include approximate investment in:
Aircraft
Batteries
Docks
Payloads
Sensors
Software
Training
Integration
Infrastructure
Accessories
Spare parts
Exact numbers are not required if you do not want to provide them.
An approximate amount, range, or description such as "tens of thousands of dollars" can still help demonstrate the scale of your existing investment.
4. ARE REALISTIC ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE?
Explain whether equivalent replacement products are currently available for the equipment your organization relies on.
Consider:
Availability
Capability
Compatibility
Cost
Integration requirements
Reliability
Software support
Training requirements
If another product exists but cannot perform the same function, explain why.
If switching equipment would require replacing other parts of your system, retraining employees, changing software, or rebuilding workflows, explain that as well.
5. WHAT HAPPENS IF REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT BECOMES UNAVAILABLE?
Explain the practical consequences for your organization.
For example:
Aircraft could be grounded longer while waiting for parts.
Existing equipment could become difficult or impossible to repair.
Compatible replacement aircraft or payloads may not be available.
Organizations could be forced to replace functioning systems earlier than planned.
Employees may require additional training.
Existing software, accessories, sensors, or infrastructure may need to be replaced.
Operational costs could increase.
Critical inspections or other operations could be delayed.
The more specific you can be about the effect on your organization, the more useful your comment can be.
READY-TO-USE FCC COMMENT TEMPLATE
Copy the template below and replace the sections in [BRACKETS] with information about your organization.
Delete anything that does not apply to you.
Use specific facts and real examples wherever possible.
Do not include claims you cannot support or confidential information you do not want included in the public record.
COMMENT TEMPLATE
COPY THE COMMENT TEMPLATE AND EDIT IN A DOCUMENT EDITOR
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FCC Proceeding 26-189
I am submitting this comment regarding the FCC's proposed rules concerning the continued availability and servicing of certain previously authorized drone equipment and related components.
My name is [NAME], and I am [TITLE / ROLE] with [ORGANIZATION].
Our organization uses unmanned aircraft systems for [DESCRIBE YOUR WORK OR MISSION].
Our equipment includes [LIST IMPORTANT AIRCRAFT, PAYLOADS, SENSORS, DOCKS, CONTROLLERS, SOFTWARE, OR OTHER EQUIPMENT].
We have invested approximately [AMOUNT OR APPROXIMATE RANGE] in our drone program, including aircraft, payloads, sensors, software, training, accessories, spare parts, and supporting infrastructure.
For [DESCRIBE ONE OR TWO REAL PROJECTS OR OPERATIONS], this equipment is important because [EXPLAIN WHAT THE EQUIPMENT ALLOWS YOUR ORGANIZATION TO DO].
If replacement aircraft, components, parts, or compatible equipment become unavailable, it could affect our organization in several ways.
First, [DESCRIBE THE EFFECT ON MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, OR EQUIPMENT AVAILABILITY].
Second, [DESCRIBE THE EFFECT ON YOUR EXISTING INVESTMENT OR OPERATIONS].
Third, [DESCRIBE ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS, TRAINING, SOFTWARE, INTEGRATION, OR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO CHANGE SYSTEMS].
We have considered alternative equipment where alternatives are available. However, [EXPLAIN WHETHER REALISTIC ALTERNATIVES EXIST AND ANY DIFFERENCES IN CAPABILITY, COST, COMPATIBILITY, AVAILABILITY, OR PERFORMANCE].
Changing platforms is not necessarily a simple matter of purchasing another aircraft.
Our existing operation may include compatible payloads, sensors, controllers, docks, batteries, accessories, software integrations, employee training, operating procedures, and other infrastructure.
Replacing one part of that system can therefore require additional changes throughout the operation.
I respectfully ask the FCC to consider the effect that any final rule could have on organizations that have already made substantial investments in legally acquired drone equipment and supporting systems.
Any implementation should provide a practical path for organizations to maintain, repair, and support equipment that is already in service and should avoid unnecessarily stranding existing investments.
The FCC should also consider the availability of genuinely equivalent replacement equipment and the time, cost, operational disruption, retraining, and integration required for organizations to transition to another platform.
Thank you for considering the practical impact of these rules on organizations that rely on unmanned aircraft systems.
Respectfully submitted,
[NAME][TITLE / ROLE][ORGANIZATION][CITY AND STATE]
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SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT
Once you have personalized the template, review it carefully and submit it directly through the FCC's official comment system.
Comment Deadline: September 2, 2026
Docket No. 26-189
IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE
FCC comments generally become part of a publicly accessible government record.
Before submitting your comment, review it carefully and do not include confidential business information, trade secrets, personally sensitive information, or other information you do not want publicly disclosed.
This template is provided for general informational purposes only. It is intended to help organizations organize and express their own views. It is not legal advice and does not guarantee any particular regulatory outcome.
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