FAA Docs Show Clamor for Domestic Drones
Alarming list of drones for small towns, universities, police releasedThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has publicly released the names of all public and private entities that have applied for authorizations to fly drones domestically in the US.

Police Drone. (Photo: Gary Friedman, Los Angeles Times) The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) suit against the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) one year ago demanding data on certifications and authorizations the agency has issued for drones in the US.
The list includes both 'surprising' and 'unsurprising' names. To be expected, the list includes organizations such as Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, various branches of the military, defense contractor Raytheon, and various drone manufacturers.
The EFF says that more surprisingly, there were many more universities, police departments, and small towns and counties across the United States on the list than they had anticipated.
As the information provided by the FAA leaves much in the dark, such as how many drones each applicant was granted, the EFF says that it continues to probe for more information and greater transparency from the FAA.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/04/20-2