As Drones Take on a Bigger Role in the Airspace, the Rules Around Them Are Getting More Complicated

Public Policy & Regulation attorney Katie Inman was featured on an episode of Federal News Network's The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton talking about the uptick in federal regulations involving drones. Ms. Inman explained the factors behind the push for new rules, including executive orders from the president and concerns about national security from the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC). She also distinguished the regulatory territory and roles of the FAA (national airspace) and FCC (spectrum and communications) before diving into the Section 2209 rulemaking from the 2016 FAA Extension Safety and Security Act, which directed the FAA to issue rules to establish a process for restricting drone flights over commercial infrastructure. She summarized the proposed rule stemming from that statute, with comments due July 6, 2026. The conversation concluded with recommendations for drone operators regarding current flights and requirements and the opportunities for engagement and innovation. The episode offers a useful summary on where the government stands on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and where companies should focus compliance and development efforts as the commercial drone industry grows and rules tighten.

Duration: 13:13