REMARKS OF FCC CHAIRMAN AJIT PAI
WORKSHOP TO IDENTIFY CRITICAL INFORMATION NEEDS TO IMPROVE 
COMMUNICATIONS DURING DISASTERS
 WASHINGTON, DC
APRIL 13, 2018
Good morning, and welcome to the FCC.  Thank you for giving up your Friday to participate in 
today’s workshop. 
Last year’s hurricane season was one of the most devastating in U.S. history.  Hundreds of  
thousands of innocent Americans caught in the path of these storms suffered terrible losses.  Although the 
storms have passed, rebuilding continues.  Many communities are still struggling to gain a semblance of 
normality— hoping to rebuild homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses, all as they look over their 
shoulders, bracing for this year’s hurricane season. 
Over the past eight months, I’ve traveled throughout communities devastated by Hurricanes 
Harvey, Irma, and Maria.  Just last month, I was in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  In Puerto 
Rico, I visited Utuado with Sandra Torres, the head of the Telecommunications Regulatory Board, and 
Commissioner Alexandra Fernandez—each of whom is here this morning.  Together, we heard firsthand 
the nightmare of having communications cut off in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, just at the moment 
when getting information and asking for help was of paramount importance.  The people of Utuado 
stepped up and cleared the roads to get the repair trucks in so they could once again be connected with the 
rest of the world.
Stories from places like Utuado illustrate why today’s workshop is so important.  The ability to 
communicate information is critical during emergencies—it’s what helps us warn communities, dispatch 
assistance, and more.  Today’s workshop will look at how first responders from all levels of government 
can better coordinate and use emergency information to help all Americans in times of disaster.  We hope 
you’ll help us understand better how information-sharing during natural disasters and other emergencies 
could improve emergency response. 
As you’re already aware, we released a Public Notice in December asking for your input on how 
the FCC performed during the 2017 Hurricane Season.  We received some very thought-provoking and 
helpful insights.  During this workshop, we hope to have a candid discussion about what information the 
Commission could or should provide to help improve disaster response and recovery efforts.  Simply put, 
there’s no better way for us to understand your needs than to directly ask you.  
We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so I’m going to yield the floor to the public safety experts.  
But before I do, I’d like to thank our outstanding team in our Public Safety and Homeland Security 
Bureau, not just for organizing today’s forum but for the superb job they’ve done to help keep Americans 
connected and safe.  
And special thanks to you, our guests, for making our communities safer.  I’m genuinely touched 
by the heroism exhibited by our emergency professionals and first responders, and by the indominable 
spirit of residents in affected communities in times of crisis.  
Regardless of how bad or difficult things get, one thing’s for sure: Americans come together 
when it’s needed most.  I feel it’s equally important that the FCC do everything within its power to aid 
our emergency professionals and to keep our communities safe.  This workshop is just the latest step the 
Commission is taking in to achieve that goal.