Statement Of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Calling On FCC To Study Hurricane Harvey's Impact On Communications Infrastructure

As we begin to assess Harvey’s horrible toll on human life and property, we will need to take stock of what worked, what didn’t, and how we can improve when it comes to our communications infrastructure. As we have done in disasters in the past, the Commission will need to study this hurricane and issue a report. That report must include a full plan for fixing the vulnerabilities that we are finding–from overloading 911 systems to out-of-service cell sites. It should also include a framework for rebuilding so that the communities that have been impacted are not permanently relegated to the wrong side of the digital divide. Above all, we need to get started. We don’t have time to waste–because we know that weather emergencies can occur anywhere at any time–and learning from what happened with Harvey can help strengthen our communications networks and save lives.