Media Contact: 
Tina Pelkey, (202) 418-0536
tina.pelkey@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
CHAIRMAN PAI AND COMMISSIONER CLYBURN GET FIRSTHAND 
LOOK AT HURRICANE IRMA RECOVERY EFFORTS
Bipartisan FCC Delegation Visits Miami, Meets With Public Safety Officials 
WASHINGTON, September 19, 2017—Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai 
and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn visited Florida on Monday to get a firsthand assessment of 
the damage caused by Hurricane Irma. The bipartisan delegation toured the David Paulison Fire 
Rescue Headquarters Building, met with a Florida Public Service Commissioner and staff from 
the FCC’s Miami Field Office, visited NewsRadio 610 WIOD, and spoke with a team restoring
cell towers and other wireless infrastructure damaged during the storm. After the trip, they 
released the following statements:
Chairman Pai said, “I commend Florida’s first responders and the entire public safety community 
for their heroic efforts to help keep residents safe during Hurricane Irma. It was inspiring to meet 
with these individuals, such as fire rescue personnel at the Miami-Dade Emergency Operations 
Center who worked tirelessly to make sure residents could get help from first responders. I also 
met with broadcasters who made incredible sacrifices to keep the public informed and wireless 
workers bringing critical mobile services back online.  In times of an emergency, everyone 
involved in public safety communications has a role to play.  The lessons learned during our visit 
will help the FCC’s continued work to improve the performance of communications networks in
future emergencies.”
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn added, “During times of greatest need, including when a natural 
disaster strikes, we are reminded of the incredible generosity and goodwill of those in our 
communities. This was never more apparent than during our visit yesterday to South Florida 
where we heard countless stories from broadcasters, telecommunications providers, first 
responders, FCC field staff, and others who worked day and night to ensure that their 
communities would have a means to stay informed and keep in touch with family and friends. 
There is still much more work to be done in the days and weeks ahead, including in the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, where more than 50% of cell sites remain out of service. Working with my 
colleagues, Members of Congress, as well as state and local officials, we can translate these 
lessons into policies that ensure our nation’s communications networks and 9-1-1 systems remain 
reliable and resilient during disasters.”
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Office of Chairman Ajit Pai: (202) 418-2000
Twitter: @AjitPaiFCC
www.fcc.gov/leadership/ajit-pai
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).