Media Contact: 
Mark Wigfield (202) 418-0253
mark.wigfield@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

CHAIRMAN PAI ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF BDAC DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY WORKING GROUP
Panel to Develop Best Practices for Responding Before, During and After a Disaster
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WASHINGTON, November 1, 2018—Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai today named members of the new Disaster Response and Recovery Working Group of the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC).

The Working Group is charged with recommending measures that can be taken to improve the resiliency of broadband infrastructure before a disaster occurs, as well as actions that can be taken to more quickly restore broadband infrastructure following a disaster.  Following what he heard on the ground in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, the Chairman has also charged the working group with developing best practices for coordination among wireless providers, backhaul providers, and power companies during and after a disaster. 

“Broadband communications have become essential to the delivery of life-saving information in a disaster,” Chairman Pai said. “It’s critical to public safety that our broadband networks are as resilient as possible to prevent outages in a disaster and also can be restored as quickly as possible when an outage occurs. 

“Recently, I announced that the FCC will comprehensively re-evaluate the agency’s Wireless Resiliency Framework. The BDAC Working Group’s recommendations will be key to this review. We encourage and expect all stakeholders—including government at all levels, power companies, fixed and mobile broadband providers, first responders, and others—to work together to develop ways to harden networks for future disasters and quickly restore communications services.”

A list of the new members is available at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-18-1121A1.docx.



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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).