NEWS News media Information 202 / 418-0500Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 TTY 202/418-2555Internet: http://www.fcc.govftp.fcc.gov Federal Communications Commission 445 12th 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). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: January 15, 2010 Linda Haller Sloan: 202-418-1408 linda.hallersloan@fcc.gov Robert Kenny: 202-418-2668 robert.kenny@fcc.gov FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ASSISTS IN HAITI EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY EFFORTS Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission today announced a series of actions it is taking, in coordination with federal partners, to assist Haiti in its recovery from the catastrophic earthquake that struck on January 12, 2009. Earlier this week, Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. The capital of Haiti, Port-au- Prince and its two million inhabitants, suffered the greatest loss of human life and most severe destruction. “Haiti’s need for communications services is extraordinary and urgent, and the FCC is strongly committed to doing our part,” said Chairman Julius Genachowski. “It is vitally important that people on the ground in Haiti have the communications capacity to conduct rescue and recovery missions, connect with loved ones, care for the sick, provide first-hand information, and move forward with overall recovery efforts. The FCC is closely collaborating with our federal partners to provide our domestic and international communications expertise and resources to support the critical Haitian relief efforts.” The FCC’s actions include: · Coordinating with the U.S. Agency for International Development on Haitian Relief and Restoration Efforts on telecommunications matters in Haiti; · Reaching out to contacts in industry and the international community to determine the status of communications services in Haiti, and between Haiti and other countries; · Working with our federal partners, including the National Communications System, under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in the U.S. government coordination of communications efforts, including identification of the status of communications; determination of the priority needs for temporary communications and restoration of existing systems, as well as related needs such as fuel and technical expertise to assist; · Identifying points of contact within the FCC’s Bureaus and Offices for questions regarding licensing, legal, spectrum, or technical issues related to provision of communications services to and in Haiti (see attached); · Working with the State Department on issues related to importation and operation of emergency communications equipment in Haiti; · Providing, as requested, technical analysis of carriers’ technical proposals for provision of temporary services; · Reviewing the spectrum allocation and assignment table for Haiti to ensure that U.S. originated equipment and systems will not cause interference to incumbent systems; · Taking steps to increase available satellite capacity over Haiti; and · Informing noncommercial educational stations of the procedures to follow in order to obtain a waiver of the Commission’s rules for fundraising appeals to support Haitian relief efforts. The FCC will continue to provide updates on matters related to communications for Haiti as they become available. A posting, “Helping Haiti,” is on the FCC’s blog page at: www.fcc.gov/blog and updates will be posted regularly. Families of Americans living in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at 888-407-4747. Those individuals who are interested, may donate to the American Red Cross to assist in the Haiti relief effort, donations are being accepted online at: www.redcross.org. The public may also donate $10.00 to Haiti recovery efforts by texting "HAITI" to "90999" on their personal cell phones (charges will be applied to the consumer’s monthly cell phone bill). To learn about more ways to help, please visit the www.cidi.org. -FCC- News and other information about the FCC is available at www.fcc.gov January 15, 2010 Federal Communications Commission Bureau and Office Contacts for Haiti Assistance and Recovery Efforts INTERNATIONAL BUREAU – Satellite and Submarine Cable and 214 International Facilities Authorizations, Cross-Border and International Coordination Issues Primary Bureau Contact: Thomas Sullivan; Thomas.Sullivan@fcc.gov; 202-418-0411 Alternate Bureau Contact: Linda Haller Sloan; Linda.HallerSloan@fcc.gov; 202-418-1408 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU – Public Safety and Homeland security, National Security, Emergency Management and Preparedness, Disaster Management Primary Bureau Contact: Kenneth Moran; Kenneth.Moran@fcc.gov 202- 418-0802 Alternate Bureau Contact: Allan Manuel; Allan.Manuel@fcc.gov 202-418-1164 FCC Operations Center (24 hours): 202-418-1122 MEDIA BUREAU – Radio, Television, and Cable TV Primary Bureau Contact: Robert Ratcliffe; Robert.Ratcliffe@fcc.gov 202-418-2606 Alternate Bureau Contact: Thomas Horan; Thomas.Horan@fcc.gov 202-418-2486 OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL – Legal Issues Primary Office Contact: Austin Schlick; Austin.Schlick@fcc.gov 202-418-1700 Alternate Office Contact: Ajit Pai, Ajit.Pai@fcc.gov 202-418-1713 OFFICE OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY – Spectrum Allocation Issues Primary Office Contact: Mark Settle; Mark.Settle@fcc.gov 202-418-1569 Alternate Office Contact: Brett Greenwalt; Brett.Greenwalt@fcc.gov 202-418-1303 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU – Domestic 214 Authorizations Primary Bureau Contact: Cathy Seidel; Cathy.Seidel@fcc.gov 202– 418-1699 Alternate Bureau Contact: Kirk Burgee; Kirk.Burgee@fcc.gov 202– 418-1599 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU – Various fixed and mobile commercial and private wireless services Primary Bureau Contact: Mary Bucher; Mary.Bucher@fcc.gov 717-338-2656 Alternate Bureau Contact: Renee Crittendon; Renee.Crittendon@fcc.gov 202- 418-2352 CONSUMER AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU - Consumer Polices and Disability Access Primary Bureau Contact: Mark Stone; Mark.Stone@fcc.gov 202– 418-0816