FCC Commissioner Rosenworcel Keynote Remarks, Hispanic Radio Conference

[Speech] As of last month, official statistics suggest 400,000 residents of Puerto Rico still don’t have electricity. But in my travels, many people told me they thought the true number was even higher. That means American citizens are still living without necessities like health care, hot meals, and basic communications. So not only has this prolonged power outage cut into the economic security of the island, it has put people’s lives at risk. That’s not easy to see in person—or even recount to you here and now. So now let me offer the good news. Because I saw that, too. I saw fierce resiliency in the face of these difficulties. I saw hope in the prospect for rebuilding. I saw pride in the island and its Hispanic heritage. I also saw just what radio stations on the island did—and I think their stories need to be told. So let me start with WKAQ. It’s a radio station in San Juan that broadcasts on 580 kHz with a Spanish-language talk radio format. Its studios are in Guaynabo in modern building with cool marble everywhere—and lots of windows. In fact, the top of the building is a big expanse of circular glass. So when Hurricane Maria first started to roar, WKAQ hunkered down. They were determined to ride out the storm and offer the news and information they knew their listeners needed. But when the winds really arrived, the glass top of the building shattered. The rain came down, and turned the stairs into a virtual waterfall. The office seemed to explode. Ruben Sanchez was on the air during a live interview with Governor Ricardo Rossello when this happened. He interrupted the back-and-forth with the island’s highest-level official to announce that the studio was now vulnerable but he assured his listeners they would do what they could to stay on air...