San Diego missed out last year on a shot to become a national drone testing hub. Now, leaders have another chance to be at the forefront of drone research, and they’re taking pains to ensure they don’t repeat the mistakes they believe doomed their first bid. A handful of San Diego and state-level officials attended…
It’s not just novice surfers and medi-weed connoisseurs that thrive in Southern California’s impeccably chill weather. The region’s climate and universities, specifically in and around San Diego, are perfectly suited for the research and development of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones. That’s according to Kelly Cunningham, a National Institute for Policy Research economist…
With only three highly anticipated days to go, the Economic development offices and major research universities across the nation are waiting with the anticipation of a kid on Christmas Eve for the Federal Aviation Administration to decide where it will station research and test sites for drones. The FAA’s decision, which could be worth billions…
Residents of the back country communities of San Diego County are sounding off about drone testing. They are concerned about their safety, environment and privacy, but mostly about why they say there are no regulations concerning any of those. By 2020, members of citizen advocacy group “Back Country Voices” say there will be 30,000 unmanned…
November 7, 2013 (Washington D.C.) –The Drone Aircraft Privacy and Transparency Act was introduce November 4 in the Senate. “The FAA’s plan falls far short of putting in place the necessary privacy protections for the commercialization of drone use in U.S. airspace,” Senator Ed Markey (D-MA)said in a statement. “This disregard for the need for…
‘I made it over to the Borrego Sun newspaper office well before my interview appointment with Supervisor Bill Horn, but when I arrived, he was already sitting out front visiting with Ellen and Anita. He called out as I picked up my pace, “I’m early.” I mumbled something about seeing him the other day (at…
PRIVACY PROTECTION: BAN ON THE USE OF DRONES BY FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES Charlottesville, Va., passed a resolution that urged the state of Virginia to adopt a two-year moratorium on drones (which it did), urged both Virginia and the U.S. Congress to prohibit information obtained from the domestic use of drones from being introduced into…
Residents of San Diego county are justifiably concerned that new drone technology will soon be tested over their homes and schools. The area has recently been approved as an official FAA drone testing site. The people of Julian, California, in San Diego County, packed a crowded forum on the test site hosted by Back Country Voices. The event brought together a…
For the third straight year, California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed common sense electronic privacy legislation, ensuring that California remains behind the rest of the country when it comes to technology law and policy. Gov. Brown vetoed SB 467, an EFF-sponsored bill that would have required state law enforcement officials to obtain a search warrant in…
READER’S EDITORIAL: Dave Patterson November 18, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – On September 24, the County of San Diego: Board of Supervisors threw their support behind a Southern California Drone Testing zone. This rash decision puts San Diego County at risk for $2.7 billion in liability for the property alone if a Drone goes…
Back Country Voices 