NACDL - Government Documents

Department of Justice Policy Guidance -- Domestic Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) DOJ: "This guidance will help ensure that the Department continues to carry out its law enforcement and national security missions while respecting individuals' privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. It will also help ensure anappropriate level of accountability and transparency." (May 22, 2015)
Federal Aviation Administration - Press Release – DOT and FAA Propose New Rules for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Regulations will facilitate integration of small UAS into U.S. aviation system. (February 15, 2015)
The White House - Presidential Memorandum: Promoting Economic Competitiveness While Safeguarding Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties in Domestic Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Memorandum for the heads of executive departments and agencies. (February 15, 2015)
Federal Aviation Administration - Notice to Airmen - FDC 4/3621 Special security notice sporting events....Any person who knowingly or willfully violates the rules pertaining to operations in this airspace may be subject to certain criminal penalties under 49 USC 46307....All aircraft operations; including parachute jumping, unmanned aircraft and remote controlled aircraft, are prohibited within a special 3nmr up to and including 3000ft agl of any stadium having a seating capacity of 30,000 or more people where either a regular or post season major league baseball, national football league, or ncaa division one football game is occurring. (October 27, 2014)
Federal Aviation Administration - Press Release – FAA Offers Guidance to Model Aircraft Operators The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today published a Federal Register notice on its interpretation of the statutory special rules for model aircraft in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. The guidance comes after recent incidents involving the reckless use of unmanned model aircraft near airports and involving large crowds of people. (June 24, 2014)
Federal Aviation Administration - Press Release – FAA to Consider Exemptions for Commercial UAS Movie and TV Production The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration today announced that seven aerial photo and video production companies have asked for regulatory exemptions that would allow the film and television industry to use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with FAA approval for the first time. (June 2, 2014)
Federal Aviation Administration - Busting Myths about the FAA and Unmanned Aircraft There are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation about unmanned aircraft system (UAS) regulations. Here are some common myths and the corresponding facts. (February 26, 2014)
Electronic Frontier Foundation - Customs & Border Protection Loaned Predator Drones to Other Agencies 700 Times in Three Years According to 'Newly Discovered' Records Newly released documents as a result of EFF FOIA Request. New information includes supplements to EFF's previous work, including: EFF reports on Customs & Border Protection Drone Agency List - Supplemental, Customs & Border Protection Daily Drone Flight Logs - 2010 - Supplemental, Customs & Border Protection Daily Drone Flight Logs - 2011 - Supplemental, Customs & Border Protection Daily Drone Flight Logs - 2012 - Supplemental. See also: EFF-generated chart comparing CBP's previous agency list and flight counts to the new disclosures. (January 14, 2014)
Federal Aviation Administration - Press Release – FAA Selects Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research and Test Sites The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced the selection of the six public entities that will develop unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) research and test sites around the country. These congressionally-mandated test sites will conduct critical research into the certification and operational requirements necessary to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace over the next several years. (December 30, 2013)
Department of Defense - Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap FY2013-2038 The purpose of this Roadmap is to articulate a vision and strategy for the continued development, production, test, training, operation , and sustainment of unmanned systems technology across DoD. This “Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap” establishes a technological vision for the next 25 years and outlines actions and technologies for DoD and industry to pursue to intelligently and affordably align with this vision. (December 2013)
Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility FOIA - FBI slide show documenting why FBI thinks warrantless drone surveillance is constitutional In June 2013 Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the FBI seeking information about the FBI’s use of drones to conduct domestic surveillance. This slideshow documents why the FBI thinks warrantless drone surveillance is constitutional. (December 2013)
Federal Aviation Administration - Notice of availability of final privacy requirements for the unmanned aircraft system ('UAS') test site program; response to comments On February 22, 2013 the FAA published and requested public comment on the proposed privacy requirements (the "Draft Privacy Requirements") for UAS test sites (the "Test Sites") that the FAA will establish pursuant to the FAA modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ("FMRA"). This notice responds to the public comments recieved and publishes the FAA's final privacy requirements for the Test Sites (the "Final Privacy Requirements"). (November 14, 2013)
Federal Aviation Administration - Integration of Civil Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS) Roadmap The Roadmap addresses current and future policies, regulations, technologies and procedures that will be required as demand moves the country from today’s limited accommodation of UAS operations to the extensive integration of UAS into the NextGen aviation system in the future. (November 7, 2013)
Federal Aviation Administration - Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Comprehensive Plan As required in the 2012 FAA Reauthorization, the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) has developed a comprehensive plan to safely accelerate the integration of civil UAS into the national airspace system.. That plan details a multi-agency approach to safe and timely UAS integration and coordination with the NextGen shift to satellite-based technologies and new procedures. (November 7, 2013)
Electronic Frontier Foundation - Drone Flights in the U.S.: Customs & Border Protection Drone Flight List This report lists the agencies in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Daily Reports in the responsive documents sent to EFF. CBP’s UAS program either provided support to these agencies, or coordinated or collaborated with these agencies during the UAS operations in the responsive documents. (September 2013)
Federal Aviation Administration - Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operational Approval This notice provides policies necessary for reviewing and evaluating the safety and interoperability of proposed Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) flight operations conducted within the United States (U.S.) National Airspace System (NAS) for the Aviation Safety (AVS) Flight Standards Service (AFS), UAS Integration Office (AFS-80), when assessing applications for a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) or Special Airworthiness Certificate. (July 30, 2013)
EPIC FOIA - A Customs & Border Protection (CPB) report, released in response to EFF’s Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the agency, shows CBP has considered adding weapons to its domestic Predator drones. View the full report here. (July 2, 2013)
Comments submitted to FAA on privacy and civil liberity concerns regarding future test site program for domestic drones. View all the comments here. (April 2013)
EPIC: DHS Working Group to Consider Privacy Impact of Drones - The Department of Homeland Security has released a previously internal memo regarding the establishment of a working group to "Safeguard Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties in the Department's Use and Support of Unmanned Aerial Systems" (drones). A complete copy of the memo is available here. (February 28, 2013)
EPIC FOIA - New records obtained by EPIC under the Freedom of Information Act indicate that the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection is operating drones in the United States capable of intercepting electronic communications. The records also suggest that the ten Predator B drones operated by the agency have the capacity to recognize and identify a person on the ground. (February 21, 2013)
2012 FAA List of Drone License Applicants via The Electronic Frontier Foundation
FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 - Calls for the integration of unmanned aerial vehicles into United States Airspace. (January 2012)