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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-  2668 
 Released:  October  7,  2005 


 MAINTAINING  WIRELESS  SERVICE  FOR  CONSUMERS  AFFECTED  BY  HURRICANE  RITA 


 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  Rita 


 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  Rita  because  they  are  unable  to  pay  their  bills.  Hurricane  Rita  displaced  numerous  residents  of  coastal  Texas  and  Louisiana,  and 
 many  of  these  customers  rely  on  their  wireless  service  during  this  difficult  time  to  remain  in  touch  with  loved  ones.  Based  on  the  representations  of  a  number  of  wireless  carriers  serving 
 consumers  displaced  by  Hurricane  Rita,  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  the  hurricane. 
 WTB  and  CGB  understand  that  as  in  the  case  of  Hurricane  Katrina  previously,  1  consumers  displaced  by  Hurricane  Rita  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  Hurricane  Rita  are  required  to  submit  a  report  no  later  than  Wednesday,  October  12,  2005,  verifying  their  compliance  with  the  standard  industry  practice  of  maintaining 
 service  to  people  displaced  by  the  hurricane  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  Rita_  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. 


 1  See  “Maintaining  Wireless  Service  For  Consumers  Affected  By  Hurricane  Katrina,”  Public  Notice,  DA  05-  2421 
 (rel.  Sept.  7,  2005). 
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