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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  September  6,  2005  David  Fiske  at  (202)  418-  0513 
 JOINT  STATEMENT  OF  CHAIRMAN  KEVIN  J.  MARTIN,  COMMISSIONER  KATHLEEN  Q.  ABERNATHY,  COMMISSIONER  MICHAEL  J.  COPPS,  AND 
 COMMISSIONER  JONATHAN  S.  ADELSTEIN  ON  HURRICANE  KATRINA  RESTORATION  EFFORTS 


 In  addition  to  its  other  tragic  consequences  -  including  tremendous  loss  of  life  and  widespread  property  damage  -  Hurricane  Katrina  severely  shook  the  communications  network  in  the  Gulf 
 Coast  and  restoring  all  these  links  will  be  as  challenging  a  communication  mission  as  we  have  ever  confronted.  Dedicated  employees  from  wireline,  wireless,  broadcast,  cable,  and  satellite 
 companies  are  working  around  the  clock  to  restore  communications  services  to  millions  of  customers.  We  commend  the  rapid  response  we  have  witnessed  from  all  segments  of  the 
 communications  industry.  We  know  that  the  industry,  like  those  of  us  at  the  Commission,  is  sparing  no  effort  in  restoring  service  to  the  Gulf  Coast. 


 The  Commission  has  been  in  continual  contact  with  the  industry  and  has  taken  prompt  action,  where  necessary,  to  provide  regulatory  relief  to  facilitate  restoration  efforts.  For  example,  the 
 Commission  has  created  opportunities  for  providers  to  deploy  alternative  means  of  communication  in  the  affected  region.  We  have  also  assisted  in  performing  coordination 
 activities  between  the  industry  and  federal  emergency  authorities  as  appropriate.  We  will  continue  doing  everything  within  our  power  to  ensure  the  vitality  of  the  nation's  communications 
 network.  We  are  confident  that  all  service  providers  will  do  the  same. 
 Our  deepest  thanks  go  out  to  the  thousands  of  communications  company  employees  who,  at  great  sacrifice,  have  been  working  nonstop  for  the  past  week  to  repair  the  communications 
 infrastructure  that  is  relied  upon  by  the  entire  nation.  And,  above  all,  our  thoughts  and  prayers  are  with  the  countless  victims  of  this  tragedy  and  their  families. 
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