I was confused by that, too.
I found this video where Congressman Pallone summarizes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9dlYHN8dQ8
I'll type a quick transcript:
> In the last few months, we've seen reports that hacking groups linked to China, Russia, North Korean, and Iran are gaining access to our communications networks to conduct surveillance, collect massive amounts of data, and manipulate our elections. And because of this, there's a real risk that the information they collect could be used to launch cyberattacks on our critical infrastructure and undermine our democratic values of free speech and expression, as well as civil and human rights. But fortunately, Congress has acted with strong bipartisan support to bolster the defense of our communications networks. My bipartisan Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, which became law in 2020, established a list of equipment and services that pose a national security risk and prevent their use in our communications networks. And HR 2864 builds on that bipartisan work by adding the telecommunications and video surveillance equipment and services provided by so-called DJI Technologies, better recognizes the equipment and services used in their drones to the Federal Communication Commission's covered list. With this action, Congress will ensure that future versions of DJI drones cannot be imported, marketed, or sold in the United States.
This is the current bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2864
This is the earlier law that establishes the list that DJI stuff will be added to: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4998...
The law prohibits providers of "advanced communications service" from using certain equipment, if they receive subsidies. And if they do, it reimburses them for replacing it with other equipment.
And here's what the current bill says about the DJI equipment:
> The communications equipment or service being—
> (A) telecommunications or video surveillance equipment produced by Shenzhen Da-Jiang Innovations Sciences and Technologies Company Limited (commonly known as ‘DJI Technologies’) (or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof); or
> (B) telecommunications or video surveillance services, including software, provided by an entity described in subparagraph (A) or using equipment described in such subparagraph.
So, if you're a phone company, ISP, cable company, etc. and if you get federal subsidies, then you won't be able to buy DJI drones or use their software / services, and you won't be able to "maintain" (keep using?) whatever you already have either.
I'm not sure what threat they're specifically trying to protect against. One guess would be exfiltration of video / photos of important infrastructure. Another guess would be DJI's software running on systems which could be used as a springboard for hacking.