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: February 5, 2013 Neil Grace, 202-418-0506 Email: neil.grace@fcc.gov FCC CHAIRMAN GENACHOWSKI CONVENES FIRST POST-SANDY FIELD HEARING IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ON COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK RESILIENCY; JOINED BY PUBLIC & PRIVATE SECTOR OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS FCC focused on actions that can help consumers stay connected with family and emergency personnel during times of crisis Washington, D.C. – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski convened a field hearing today in New York City and Hoboken, New Jersey with his colleagues from the Commission to conduct an in-depth examination of the resiliency of the nation’s communications networks during and in the aftermath of disasters such as Superstorm Sandy. The panels included witnesses from a broad range of stakeholder groups, including communications companies, public safety officials, consumers, and representatives from state and local government. FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn, Jessica Rosenworcel, and Ajit Pai were also on-hand to ask questions and deliver remarks. Commissioner Robert McDowell delivered remarks via video from Washington. Findings and information gathered today will help inform the Commission’s consideration of actions that may be needed to strengthen network resiliency during times of emergency. Chairman Genachowski also called for a coordinated effort among all stakeholders to better empower consumers with information about how to best prepare for unexpected emergencies, such as natural disasters. In his opening statement, FCC Chairman Genachowski said, “Our nation’s communications infrastructure is a vital part of our public safety and national security. The inability to communicate with family and emergency personnel during a disaster is simply unacceptable. We must meet this moment with smart action from all sectors to ensure that communications networks are working when people need them most.” To read Chairman Genachowski’s full opening remarks, click here: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-318754A1.pdf Tomorrow, FCC staff will convene a technical workshop on network resiliency at Brooklyn Law School. The workshop will feature presentations from engineering faculty, industry researchers and network engineers addressing topics relevant to the Commission’s ongoing examination of network resiliency in the wake of Superstorm Sandy and other disasters. To read Commissioner McDowell’s opening remarks, click here: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-318725A1.pdf To read Commissioner Clyburn’s opening remarks, click here: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-318755A1.pdf To read Commissioner Rosenworcel’s opening remarks, click here: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-318750A1.pdf To read Commissioner Pai’s opening remarks, click here: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-318748A1.pdf -FCC- News about the Federal Communications Commission can also be found on the Commission’s web site www.fcc.gov.