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 PUBLIC  NOTICE  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  St.,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 DA  05-  2421 
 Released:  September  7,  2005 


 MAINTAINING  WIRELESS  SERVICE  FOR  CONSUMERS  AFFECTED  BY  HURRICANE  KATRINA 


 The  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  and  Consumer  &  Governmental  Affairs  Bureau  take  steps  to  ensure  consumers  are  not  improperly  disconnected  from  wireless  service  in 
 the  wake  of  Hurricane  Katrina 


 In  this  public  notice,  the  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  (WTB)  and  Consumer  &  Governmental  Affairs  Bureau  (CGB)  take  steps  to  ensure  that  wireless  service  providers  do  not 
 improperly  disconnect  consumers  displaced  by  Hurricane  Katrina  because  they  are  unable  to  pay  their  bills.  Hurricane  Katrina  displaced  hundreds  of  thousands  of  residents  of  Louisiana, 
 Mississippi,  and  Alabama,  and  many  thousands  of  these  customers  rely  on  their  wireless  service  during  this  difficult  time  to  remain  in  touch  with  loved  ones.  As  of  this  date,  the  United  States 
 Post  Office  is  not  operating  fully  throughout  the  affected  area,  commercial  power  capability  is  not  yet  available  throughout  the  affected  area,  and  the  communications  networks  (including 
 access  to  the  Internet  for  online  bill  pay  options)  are  not  at  pre-  hurricane  capabilities.  Based  on  the  representations  of  a  number  of  wireless  carriers  serving  consumers  displaced  by  the 
 hurricane,  WTB  and  CGB  understand  that  the  common  practice  in  the  wireless  industry  at  this  time  is  to  continue  providing  service  to  displaced  people  who  cannot  pay  their  bills  in  the  wake 
 of  Hurricane  Katrina. 
 WTB  and  CGB  understand  that  consumers  displaced  by  Hurricane  Katrina  are  concerned  that  wireless  service  providers  may  disconnect  service  for  failure  to  pay  their  bills.  To  ensure  that 


 consumers  of  these  services  continue  to  maintain  access  to  their  wireless  service  during  this  difficult  time,  all  licensees  of  wireless  services  serving  consumers  affected  by  the  hurricane  are 
 required  to  submit  a  report  no  later  than  Thursday,  September  8,  2005  verifying  their  compliance  with  the  standard  industry  practice  of  maintaining  service  to  people  displaced  by  Hurricane 
 Katrina  despite  failure  to  pay  bills.  Reports  should  describe  the  grace  period  or  other  relief  licensees  are  providing  for  this  issue.  Reports  may  be  submitted  in  letter  format  addressed  to  the 
 chiefs  of  the  respective  bureaus.  Electronic  copies  of  the  reports  should  be  provided  to  Katrina_  Wireless_  Report@  fcc.  gov.  In  addition,  licensees  must  also  serve  one  copy  with  the 
 Commission's  copy  contractor,  Best  Copy  and  Printing,  Inc.  (BCPI),  Portals  II,  445  12th  Street,  SW,  Room  CY-  B402,  Washington,  D.  C.  20554,  (202)  488-  5300,  or  via  e-  mail  to 
 fcc@  bcpiweb.  com. 
 For  further  information  contact:  Chelsea  Fallon,  WTB  at  (202)  418-  7991  or  Leon  Jackler,  CGB  at  (202)  418-  0946. 
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