A year later, it will be illegal to fly a drone in the same weight category without the technology in most circumstances. In some contexts, as if they were flying over a large group of people, drones that weigh less than 0.55 pounds will also have to transmit their location. If you do not bear the costs of retrofitting your existing drone with Remote ID, you can still pilot it, but only in areas specially designated by the FAA. These areas do not yet exist, with the FAA planning to start accepting applications in 2022.
The FAA says the requirement is “a major step towards fully integrating drones into the national airspace system”, adding that the technology provides “crucial information for our national security agencies and law enforcement partners, and other officials in charge to guarantee public security ”
There are still many details that need to be resolved. Notably, the FAA does not say how far drones need to transmit their location, nor how manufacturers should integrate technology into their products. We can expect this to be resolved as we approach 2022 and 2023.