FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cortland Drone Service Provider Featured in National Cybersecurity Policy Report for Advocacy Against FCC Drone Ban
CORTLAND, OHIO — May 15, 2026 — Northern Shore Technologies LLC (d/b/a Strategic Air Captures), a premier Ohio provider of professional real estate photography, videography, and thermal imaging drone services, has been featured in a national publication for its formal opposition to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recent ban on foreign-manufactured unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
In an article published by VitalLaw’s Cybersecurity Policy Report titled "UAS Makers, Users Urge FCC to Reverse ‘Covered List’ Decision," Strategic Air Captures’ Owner and Chief UAS Pilot, Jason Rister, was highlighted as a leading voice advocating for American small businesses, educators, and commercial drone pilots whose livelihoods are threatened by the regulatory action.
The FCC’s December 2025 decision placed manufacturers like DJI and Autel on the "covered list," effectively banning their equipment and restricting vital software updates. In his petition to the FCC, Rister argued that this sweeping restriction forces American commercial drone operators toward an "unavoidable operational cliff," penalizing them for a lack of viable domestic manufacturing alternatives.
The Cybersecurity Policy Report highlighted several of Rister's core arguments submitted to the FCC, directly quoting his petition:
"There are currently no existing U.S. manufacturers producing affordable, high-quality drones suited for our specific market segment. The photography, videography, and small-scale thermal imaging sectors require reliable, advanced sensor technology and flight stability at a price point that makes a small business model viable."
Rister’s advocacy emphasizes that while national security is paramount, blanket bans on existing hardware fundamentally misunderstand the daily realities of the commercial drone industry. With no domestic equivalents available at a competitive price point, the ban threatens not only the survival of current aerial service providers but also the future of STEM education, where cost-effective drones and components are critical for training the next generation of American pilots and engineers.
"Drone hardware inherently has a limited operational life and inevitably requires replacement over time," Rister noted in the publication. "Because there are currently no suitable replacements with equivalent or better capabilities within our price range, this ban pushes our businesses toward an unavoidable operational cliff... [it is] a direct and active attack on American small businesses, educators, photographers, videographers, and independent contractors."
By speaking out, Strategic Air Captures aims to shed light on how heavy-handed regulations contradict the administration’s goal of achieving "American drone dominance." Dominance requires a thriving, highly skilled base of FAA-certified pilots—a workforce that cannot lead the world in drone integration if grounded by a lack of accessible equipment.
"We are incredibly proud to have our voices heard on a national platform," said Rister. "We are not just fighting for our own Cortland-based business; we are fighting for the entire ecosystem of American drone operators, real estate media professionals, utility contractors, and students who rely on this technology. We hope the FCC listens to the very people who power the U.S. drone economy and reconsiders this decision."
To read the full, official petition submitted by Strategic Air Captures to the FCC, click here to view the filing on the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System.
To read the full feature in the Cybersecurity Policy Report, visit VitalLaw here.
For more information about Strategic Air Captures and to book our digital media and aerial services, please visit strategicaircaptures.com or call (234) 200-6113.
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About Strategic Air Captures: Based in Cortland, Ohio, Strategic Air Captures provides industry-leading unmanned aerial and ground-based visual services. We specialize in high-resolution drone photography, cinematic videography, advanced thermal imaging, comprehensive real estate photography, and immersive Google Street View virtual tours. Driven by safety, innovation, and precision, Strategic Air Captures serves commercial, residential, and industrial clients throughout Northeast Ohio, delivering critical data and stunning visual media that elevate your brand.