TechFreedom Sues FAA Over 'Rushed' $5 Drone Registration Fee Rules

TechFreedom sued the Federal Aviation Administration, saying it exceeded the agency's authority when it imposed a $5 registration fee for drones that weigh more than 0.55 pounds (see 1512140019). “Whether or not requiring drone registration is a wise policy, the rules the FAA rushed out before Christmas are unlawful,” TechFreedom President Berin Szoka said in a statement on the lawsuit. Szoka said the FAA didn't give the public an opportunity to comment on the regulations, meaning the agency wasn't able to consider "the real-world complexities of drones," which could lead to unintended consequences. Tom Struble, policy counsel for the group, said the notice-and-comment rulemaking process gives agencies stakeholder viewpoints so it can assess "competing considerations." He also called the cost-benefit analysis in the FAA's interim drone regulations "paltry." The FAA said it doesn't comment on pending litigation.