Bill Overview
Title: Countering CCP Drones Act
Description: This bill requires the inclusion of telecommunications and video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by Shenzhen Da-Jiang Innovations Sciences and Technologies Company Limited (a Chinese drone maker commonly known as DJI Technologies) on a list of communications equipment or services determined by the Federal Communications Commission (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.
Sponsors: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Target Audience
Population: Global consumers and professionals using DJI drones and employees of DJI
Estimated Size: 2000000
- DJI is a leading global producer of consumer and professional drones, with an extensive market reach.
- The legislation targets DJI, which has a significant market share in both consumer and commercial drone markets worldwide.
- Employees of DJI globally may be affected by this legislation, especially in terms of market access and revenue.
- Global consumers and professionals using DJI drones could experience decreased product availability or increased costs if the company is adversely affected by U.S. market restrictions.
Reasoning
- The primary population affected includes individuals and businesses heavily relying on DJI drones for economic activities. This encompasses professionals in photography, real estate, and agricultural industries using drones as tools to enhance services or operations.
- Considering the policy's direct impact on DJI's commercial availability, these professionals might see increased costs in acquiring equivalent technologies, potentially reducing business profitability in the short term.
- The budget constraints suggest a gradual phase-out with alternate compensations or supports highly unlikely, meaning consumers may face price hikes or service disruptions without immediate alternatives.
- Considering DJI's large US market share and specific policy targeting, excluding DJI products from federal fund eligibility could significantly incentivize a market shift, compelling US entities to explore other options.
- Nevertheless, a portion of users, especially hobbyists not reliant on federal fund support, may remain less impacted due to lower short-term complexities attached to personal usage.
Simulated Interviews
Professional photographer (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I primarily use DJI drones due to their reliability and technology.
- This policy might increase my operational costs as alternatives could require more investment.
- Switching brands could complicate my service offerings without comprehensive retraining.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Tech entrepreneur (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could disrupt my current business model which leverages DJI technology.
- Adapting to new technologies may slow down development and increase costs significantly.
- I might need to reevaluate our funding and partnership strategies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Real estate agent (Austin, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This new regulation might lead to disruptions in creating property listings since we always used DJI drones.
- Other drone options could mean increased learning curves and upfront costs.
- We rely heavily on federal programs for equipment purchases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Drone hobbyist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a hobbyist, the policy might not directly affect my current drones but could impact future purchases.
- If DJI products become limited or expensive, I may need to scout alternative brands for hobbyist drones.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Videographer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about how this policy could affect ongoing projects and our hardware costs.
- Replacing DJI drones with substitutes might not offer the same quality without increasing our expenses.
- Changes could lead us to adjust project pricing which may affect client relations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Environmental scientist (Portland, OR)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will affect my ability to conduct research efficiently as DJI drones are integral to our projects.
- Switching equipment might require additional training and adjustment periods.
- There's no immediate alternative that's as reliable within our budget constraints.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
DJI sales executive (Miami, FL)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could drastically impact our business operations and personal job security.
- The ripple effect can extend to our partners, impacting sales targets and job prospects.
- Alternative markets may need to be aggressively pursued.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Agricultural consultant (Columbus, OH)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Revising contracts or methods due to this policy can complicate services to clients.
- Alternative drone solutions are available but might not have equivalents to DJI’s technology.
- Training farm staff on new equipment will require additional resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Retired engineer (Dallas, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My use is largely recreational, unlikely to be affected significantly.
- Policy impacts might be more visible in community programs involving products funding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Technology journalist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might provide a unique angle to explore technological and economic shifts in the U.S. market.
- Observations about shifting to newer brands or alternative technologies could be significant storylines.
- Impact may be greater on businesses and federal contract projects using drones.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2500000 (Low: $1500000, High: $5000000)
Year 2: $2500000 (Low: $1500000, High: $5000000)
Year 3: $2500000 (Low: $1500000, High: $5000000)
Year 5: $2500000 (Low: $1500000, High: $5000000)
Year 10: $2500000 (Low: $1500000, High: $5000000)
Year 100: $2500000 (Low: $1500000, High: $5000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy affects a primary player in the drone market and may cause market shifts.
- There are mild costs associated with FCC administration changes to enforce this policy.
- Potential security savings over the long term could outweigh short-term economic adjustments.