Important Legal Update on Drone Purchases
2/19/2026
New FCC Restrictions on Drones and Drone Components & Accessories
Dear Colleagues,
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued significant new restrictions that impact drone purchases. Please review this important information before attempting to purchase any drones or drone-related components. The Source-to-Pay and Sponsored Projects Administration teams have worked closely together to draft the following guidelines to ensure drone purchases adhere to federal requirements.
What You Need to Know:
- As of December 22, 2025, the FCC has prohibited ALL foreign-made drones and drone components from being imported for use or sale in the United States. The FCC Press Release and Fact Sheet are here.
- The FCC update does not prohibit the use of any existing device models the FCC previously authorized; however, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.240-1 and Department of Defense (DOD) 1260H restrictions separately prohibit the use of federal funds to purchase or operate certain drones manufactured or assembled by designated foreign entities.
- This applies regardless of country of origin or intended use (commercial, research, or personal)
- The prohibition includes a broad range of "critical components" such as:
- Sensors
- Cameras
- Communications devices
- Motors
- Batteries
- Associated software
New Requirements:
APPROVED SUPPLIERS ONLY: All drone and drone component purchases must be made ONLY from suppliers listed on the official UAS Blue List
NEW COMMODITY CODE: New commodity code/spend categories have been created specifically for drone and drone component purchases. All drone-related purchases must include one of the following:
- SC946 Equipment Capital – Drone and Drone Components & Accessories
- SC947 Equipment Non Capital – Drone and Drone Components & Accessories
It is the requester's responsibility to ensure the correct commodity code is applied, regardless of how it populates from a catalog supplier.
How This Affects Your Purchases:
- ONLY purchase from suppliers on the UAS Blue List
- ALWAYS use the new drone-specific commodity code
- All drone-related purchase requests will undergo additional review
Note: Drones and Drone components on the UAS Blue List are allowed to receive updates and introduce new components for FCC authorization until January 1, 2027
Thank you for your collaboration in ensuring USNH remains compliant with these new federal regulations. The Source-To-Pay Team remains dedicated to supporting our campus community through these changes while maintaining regulatory compliance. We value your understanding as we work together to adapt to these new requirements, and we're committed to providing the best possible service during this transition.
Sincerely,
The Source-To-Pay Team
