FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
O F F IC E OF 
T HE CHA I R M AN 
The Honorable Patrick Murphy 
U.S. House of Representatives 
211 Cannon House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Murphy: 
December 14, 2016 
Thank you for your letter requesting that the Commission encourage wireless carriers to 
waive data overage charges to consumers impacted by Hurricane Matthew. 
I agree that it is important for individuals to access vital public safety information during 
major storm events. To help customers affected by Hurricane Matthew, Verizon and AT&T 
waived data overage fees for their customers in the impacted counties in Florida, Georgia, North 
Carolina, and South Carolina. 1 Other telecommunications providers also let all consumers in 
these areas-including non-subscribers-use cable Wi-Fi hotspots to connect their wireless 
devices to the Internet. 
In the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, the major wireless carriers-AT&T, Sprint, T­
Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon-implemented the Wireless Network Resiliency Cooperative 
Framework (Framework) for the first time. This voluntary initiative, launched by the carriers 
and CTIA in April2016, enhances wireless service continuity, coordination, and information­
sharing during and after emergencies and disasters.2 Pursuant to the Framework, the carriers 
implemented emergency roaming procedures and worked with state and local government 
agencies on restoration efforts. 
During and after the storm, the Commission also activated its Disaster Information 
Reporting System (DIRS). This web-based system is used by communications companies to 
provide information on communications infrastructure outages during times of crisis. The FCC 
worked closely with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) throughout the storm to 
collect and analyze the data received from DIRS, which used information from over 3,000 
contacts in various communications industry segments. The Commission' s website also 
provided daily updates on the status of communications networks in the affected areas. 
1 Press Release, AT&T Inc., AT&T Waiving Overage Charges For Those Affected By Hurricane Matthew, (Oct. 7, 
20 16), http://www. pmewswire.com/news-releases/att-waiving-overage-charges-for-those-a:ffected-by-hurricane­
matthew-300341285 .html. 
2 Letter from Joan Marsh, AT&T Services Inc.; Charles McKee, Sprint; Grant Spellmeyer, U.S. Cellular; Scott 
Bergmann, CTIA; Steve Sharkey, T-Mobile USA; and William H. Johnson, Verizon, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission at 1 (Apr. 27, 2016) (on file in PS Docket No. 13-239). 
Page 2-The Honorable Patrick Murphy 
I appreciate your interest in this matter and look forward to continuing to work with yon 
to ensure that the public can communicate and receive essential information during times of 
emergency. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.