U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr visited Moore County on Friday for stops focused on drone manufacturing and emergency communications.
Hudson and Carr toured Dracoe’s manufacturing facility in Aberdeen before visiting the Moore County 911 Center, where they met with local public safety officials and dispatchers and saw the county’s Next Generation 911 technology in operation.
At Dracoe, the two toured the veteran-owned company’s manufacturing operation and met with employees to discuss domestic drone manufacturing and emerging drone technology.
The Aberdeen company designs and manufactures small drones and components used for defense and counter-drone training. Earlier this year, the U.S. Army evaluated a Dracoe target-management capability during a counter-drone exercise.
The visit comes as federal policy surrounding domestically and foreign-produced drones continues to change. The FCC has taken steps affecting equipment authorization for certain foreign-produced drones and critical components, while providing exemptions for some systems and components meeting federal requirements.
Following the stop in Aberdeen, Hudson and Carr traveled to the Moore County Public Safety Center, where they met with Sheriff Ronnie Fields, public safety officials, dispatchers and county leaders.
The visit focused on Next Generation 911, or NG911, which replaces older 911 infrastructure with internet-based technology designed to provide additional capabilities such as improved location information, text and multimedia communications, stronger cybersecurity and better communication between emergency call centers and first responders.
Moore County has operated on North Carolina’s Next Generation 911 network since 2021 and also offers Text-to-911 for people who are unable to safely make a voice call.
“Continued collaboration and investment in emergency communications are essential to ensuring our citizens can access the help they need, when they need it most,” Moore County Public Safety said following the visit.
Hudson, who represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District, is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. He and U.S. Rep. Troy Carter of Louisiana have introduced bipartisan legislation that would establish a federal grant program to assist states, tribes and local 911 centers with Next Generation 911 upgrades.
The proposed legislation includes funding provisions for system deployment and maintenance, cybersecurity, training and public education.
Hudson said the Moore County stops provided an opportunity for Carr to see both local drone manufacturing and emergency communications technology firsthand.
“From building American-made drones right here near Fort Bragg to giving our first responders the latest technology when somebody calls 911, Moore County is doing some incredible work,” Hudson said.
The visits gave local officials and industry representatives an opportunity to discuss Moore County’s existing emergency communications capabilities and its growing role in drone manufacturing as federal officials consider policies affecting both technologies.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.
