SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Officials in Utah, Nevada and 22other states are eagerly awaiting the
Federal Aviation Administration’sselection of six drone-testing sites for the agency.Statessubmitting bids
are counting on a major economic boost if they become atest site. They also hope it will set them up in the
long term as majorplayers in the burgeoning industry."We’ve worn out the edge ofthe seat waiting for
it," said Steve Hill, director of the NevadaGovernor’s Office of Economic Development.Unmanned
aircraftsystems, commonly known as drones, have been mainly used by themilitary, but governments, businesses
and even hobbyists are eager tostart exploring possible uses for small unmanned aircraft.The FAAdoes not
allow commercial use of drones, but it’s is working to developoperational guidelines by the end of 2015. The
testing sites will helpthe agency develop those rules and training for operators.Thedomestic drones, which
often look like radio-controlled model airplanesand helicopters, have been proposed to assist everything
from fightingwildfires, mapping future roads and surveying crops.In additionto aviation experts, the test
sites are expected to attractentrepreneurs, so landing one of the coveted six spots will helps statesgain a
foothold on the industry."What you will find is you willhave an ecosystem of aviation or aeronautics
companies that will developaround these areas," said Marshall Wright, a business developmentdirector
with the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development.Wright said becoming a test site could also mean
tens of millions in tax revenue over the first 10 years or so."This is big money," he
said.Nationally,there are about 100,000 drone-related jobs created every year, and theUtah and Nevada
governor’s offices both say if they get just a piece ofthat, it would be significant boost for the state.In
Utah’spitch, officials outlined four spots in the northern, west-central andeast-central parts of the state
for potential testing.The areas,near Green River, Milford, Delta and Promontory, are relatively ruraland do
not have heavily trafficked or military airspace, Wright said.Wrightsaid they also represent a variety of
terrain— mountains, flat areas,and even over the Great Salt Lake— that drones would be used in forcommercial
and civilian purposes."We think we have just about everything that you could ask for, outside of jungle
terrain," Wright said.Hesaid Utah already has 3,000 to 4,000 jobs in the unmanned vehicleindustry,
either manufacturing drones or related products and systems.Hillsaid Nevada’s selling points include a
strong military presence, lotsof airspace and universities that are developing programs in
dronetechnology."Much of Nevada is not all that inhabited," he said."Just by that nature,
it’s a much safer and more secure environment thanone that’s more flown-through."Because the unmanned
drones cancarry cameras and other monitoring equipment, privacy advocates haveexpressed concerns about them
and the need for regulations.In2013, more than 40 states introduced legislation to restrict their use.Many
of the proposals focused on law enforcement and requirements about asearch warrant before using
drones.Marina Lowe, with the ACLU ofUtah, said her group is concerned about law enforcement uses that
couldimpact protections against unreasonable search and seizure guaranteedunder the Constitution’s Fourth
Amendment.Utah seems most interested in commercial uses, she said, which the ACLU does not see as
potentially problematic."TheACLU’s take has always been that if we are going to see dronesdeveloped in
our state, it’s actually a very pro-business move to makesure that we have some privacy protections in place
because it will givepeople some ease."She said in Utah, Fourth Amendment protectionsare important to
residents and legislators, so she expects the statewill take steps to protect privacy down the road.The
LibertasInstitute, a Utah-based policy group that advocates for individualliberty and privacy, is also
monitoring the issue, president ConnorBoyack said.Boyack said their concern is ensuring "theLegislature
maintains the ability to enact reasonable safety and privacyguidelines to protect the citizens of Utah as
this industry takes off."Officials said they’re sensitive to those concerns and they hope that the
pending FAA guidelines will help allay fears.FAAspokeswoman Alison Duquette said the agency does not have a
set date toannounce the testing sites, but it will be by the end of the year."They’veplayed this very
close to the vest," Hill said. "We don’t really haveany direct indication, but certainly a lot of
people in the industry whohave been following this say we have great opportunity. We’re hopefuland anxious
to hear."___Rindels reported from Las Vegas.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.