The U.S. government just took another major step toward removing Chinese drones from the American market.
In July, the FCC proposed new restrictions that could prevent certain foreign-made drones from being imported or sold in the U.S. even if those models had previously been approved. The FCC is now asking the drone industry and the public for feedback, with comments due September 2.
This goes beyond the restrictions announced in December 2025, which primarily blocked new foreign-made drone models from receiving approval for sale in the United States. The new proposal opens the door to restricting some drones that are already on the market today.
For real estate photographers, that matters.
DJI dominates professional real estate drone photography because the equipment is remarkably capable and remarkably cheap. A photographer can buy a DJI Mini for a few hundred dollars and have everything needed to shoot aerial photos and video of a property.
If those products become harder to buy, photographers will need alternatives.
And that raises a bigger question:
Where is the affordable American drone?
We support the goal
The federal government isn't doing this because it dislikes photographers.
Drones have become strategically important technology. They are used in defense, infrastructure, public safety, agriculture and countless other industries. The government has raised concerns about surveillance, cybersecurity, supply chains and America's reliance on Chinese drone manufacturers. The broader policy push is explicitly aimed at reducing that dependence and strengthening domestic drone manufacturing.
That's a goal we support.
America should be able to build its own drones.
But if we want American businesses to stop buying Chinese drones, we need to give them something else to buy.
Small businesses don't need a military drone
At HomeJab, we work with real estate photographers across the country every day.
For most of them, a drone is simply another camera.
They need good photos. Stable 4K video. Reliable flight. Reasonable wind performance. Good battery life. GPS and return-to-home.
They do not need a $20,000 industrial aircraft.
A DJI Mini costing only a few hundred dollars can already handle a HomeJab real estate shoot.
That is the benchmark.
Unfortunately, much of the American drone industry has moved toward defense, government, public safety and large enterprise customers. Skydio, one of the best-known American drone manufacturers, stopped selling its consumer drones in 2023 and shifted its focus toward those markets.
That may make sense for those manufacturers. Government and defense contracts are valuable.
But it leaves a huge gap.
America needs a drone for small business
Real estate photographers aren't alone.
Home inspectors use them.
Contractors use them.
Farmers use them.
Insurance companies use them.
Videographers use them.
There are millions of potential commercial users who don't need advanced military technology. They need an affordable flying camera that works.
If a $350 Chinese drone can do the job, we should be asking how close an American manufacturer can get.
Maybe the answer isn't $350.
Maybe it's $500.
Maybe it's $750.
But it shouldn't have to be $10,000 or $20,000.
HomeJab wants to help
HomeJab operates a nationwide marketplace of real estate photographers, many of whom fly drones every day.
Instead of fighting to preserve our industry's dependence on Chinese equipment, we'd rather help find the American replacement.
We plan to start talking with U.S. drone manufacturers about what it would take to build a simple, affordable drone specifically for working photographers and other small businesses.
The requirements aren't complicated.
Good camera.
Good video.
Reliable flight.
Easy controls.
Affordable batteries and repairs.
And a price small businesses can actually justify.
DJI proved there is enormous demand for this product.
Now American manufacturers have an opportunity to build it.
If the United States wants to lead the global drone industry, we shouldn't just build the best drones for the military.
We should build the best drones for American small businesses too.
