NEWS
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).
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
December 1, 2011 Neil Grace, 202-418-0506
Email: neil.grace@fcc.gov
FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI’S STATEMENT
ON BART POLICY ADOPTION
Washington, D.C. -- FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski issued the following statement:
“Today BART took an important step in responding to legitimate concerns raised by its August 
11, 2011 interruption of wireless service. As the policy BART adopted recognizes, 
communications networks that are open and available are critical to our democracy and 
economy.
The FCC is dedicated to preserving the availability and openness of communications networks.
It is also committed to ensuring that communications technologies are harnessed to protect the 
public, and that first responders and other public safety officers have the tools they need for their 
important work. For interruption of communications service to be permissible or advisable, it 
must clear a high substantive and procedural bar.
The legal and policy issues raised by the type of wireless service interruption at issue here are 
significant and complex. I have asked Commission staff to review these critical issues and 
consider the constraints that the Communications Act, First Amendment, and other laws and 
policies place upon potential service interruptions. We will soon announce an open, public 
process to provide guidance on these issues.”
-FCC-