Media Contact: 
Mark Wigfield (202) 418-0253
mark.wigfield@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC ADVANCES UP TO $76.9 MILLION TO RESTORE 
COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS IN PUERTO RICO AND U.S. VIRGIN 
ISLANDS DEVASTATED BY MARIA
  --
WASHINGTON, October 4, 2017 – Responding to the destruction of communications networks 
wreaked by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federal 
Communications Commission today took steps to immediately provide up to $76.9 million to 
help restore service.
The FCC unanimously voted to immediately provide carriers with up to seven-months’ worth of
support from the FCC’s Universal Service Fund, which helps lower the cost of deploying service 
in areas that are costly to serve. Any funds advanced under today’s action can be used to repair 
telecommunications infrastructure and restore service to customers across the islands.
Maria’s direct hit of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Sept. 20 left the vast majority of
cell sites out of service, and nearly all consumers without either cable or wireline services. Even 
as of yesterday, approximately 88% of cell sites were out of service in Puerto Rico and 67% in 
the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The FCC’s actions are intended to enable carriers to restore essential communications services as 
quickly as possible. FCC staff will help coordinate network repair activities to ensure that the 
greatest coverage is available to the most people.
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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).