Media Contact: 
Travis Litman, (202) 418-2400
travis.litman@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER JESSICA ROSENWORCEL
CALLING ON FCC TO STUDY HURRICANE HARVEY’S IMPACT ON 
COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE
WASHINGTON, September 5, 2017. — As we begin to assess Harvey’s horrible toll on 
human life and property, we will need to take stock of what worked, what didn’t, and 
how we can improve when it comes to our communications infrastructure. In the wake 
of Hurricane Katrina, I accompanied Commissioner Michael Copps when Chairman 
Kevin Martin invited him along to survey the devastation along the Gulf Coast.  The 
memories of that day–both the scope of the damage and the commitment to 
rebuilding–are forever burned in my mind.  So I am heartened that while the Chairman 
is in Texas today he will spend some time inspecting the destructive impact of this 
storm. 
As we have done in disasters in the past, the Commission will need to study this 
hurricane and issue a report. That report must include a full plan for fixing the 
vulnerabilities that we are finding–from overloading 911 systems to out-of-service cell 
sites.  It should also include a framework for rebuilding so that the communities that 
have been impacted are not permanently relegated to the wrong side of the digital 
divide.  Above all, we need to get started.  We don’t have time to waste–because we 
know that weather emergencies can occur anywhere at any time–and learning from 
what happened with Harvey can help strengthen our communications networks and 
save lives.
###
Office of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel
Twitter: @JRosenworcel
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. Cir. 1974).