The Federal Aviation Administration, the US agency that regulates the law of the skies, indicated this week that it is streamlining its process for approving the use of some small unmanned aerial vehicles in the domestic airspace for certain commercial activities like filmmaking, farming, and utilities inspection.

While the FAA's complete set of rules on domestic drone operation will not likely be finalized within the next calendar year—this despite the fact that Congress created a framework for the FAA to grant permits for small commercial drones in low-risk situations in 2012 with passage of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act—the agency has indicated that it will take steps to permit some small-scale commercial drones sooner than anticipated.

“The FAA is proactively working to develop and disseminate information on the FAA’s authority… for people who want to operate [drones] for other than hobby or recreational purposes," an FAA spokeswoman told Ars on Friday.

Specifically, “The FAA expects to propose a rule allowing commercial drones weighing less than 55 pounds (25 kilograms) by November, according to a schedule of rulemaking efforts,” reports Bloomberg.

Additionally, according to recent remarks given by FAA Manager of UAS Integration Jim Williams at the 2014 sUSB Expo, the FAA has already been fielding requests for specific small-scale commercial drone flights. In the speech, Williams explained:

The FAA is working with ASTM International, a Globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of international voluntary consensus standards, to create standards for small unmanned aircraft. The initial release of these standards occurred earlier this year. The FAA is in the process of evaluating the standards with the objective of recognizing them for use in certification of small unmanned aircraft. We believe that aircraft manufactured, operated, and maintained according to consensus standards will lower the risk for people and property on the ground.

The FAA’s change of heart comes in the wake of a ruling by an administrative judge with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in March, striking down a $10,000 fine against a man for unlicensed “commercial use” of a small drone airplane.

While the FAA considers applications for “low-risk” drone uses in the domestic airspace, some drone enthusiasts are ignoring the FAA’s claimed authority altogether by carrying out commercial drone-for-hire businesses without a permit.

One such company is the Los Angeles based “Drone Dudes,” which openly bills its technicians as “aerial cinematography specialists,” performing work-for-hire drone film production for Hollywood studios and other clients.

“Whatever they’re doing is between themselves and their client, and it’s more of an underground operation now, I think,” Mark Bolonos of the Los Angeles Police Department, told National Public Radio. Nevertheless, Bolanos also explained of the filmmakers who use drones, “they want to comply with the law. I think most people want to do the right thing.”