Communications Status Report for Areas Impacted by Winter Storm Fern January 27, 2026 This report provides information on the status of communications services in geographic areas impacted by Winter Storm Fern as of 10:00 a.m. EST on January 27, 2026. This report incorporates network outage data submitted by communications providers to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS). On January 23, 2026 the Commission activated the Disaster Information Reporting System for communications impacted by the severe related to Winter Storm Fern. We note that the operational status of communications services may evolve rapidly during a disaster. The FCC will provide daily updates to this report until DIRS data collection is deactivated for this region. On January 24, 2026 DIRS was expanded to include additional counties in Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia. On January 25, 2026 DIRS was expanded to include additional counties in Kentucky and was partially deactivated for certain counties in South Carolina. On January 26, 2025 DIRS was partially deactivated for certain counties in Kentucky and South Carolina and fully deactivated for counties in Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia The following counties and municipalities are in the current geographic area that is part of the DIRS activation area (the “disaster area”) for today’s report. Kentucky: Allen, Barren, Bell, Breathitt, Butler, Calloway, Casey, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Floyd, Green, Harlan, Hart, Jackson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Simpson, Taylor, Todd, Trigg, Warren, Wayne, and Whitley Mississippi: Adams, Alcorn, Amite, Attala, Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Claiborne, Clarke, Clay, Coahoma, Copiah, Covington, DeSoto, Franklin, Grenada, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Itawamba, Issaquena, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Kemper, Lafayette, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lee, Leflore, Lincoln, Lowndes, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Panola, Pike, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Rankin, Scott, Sharkey, Simpson, Smith, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tishomingo, Tippah, Tunica, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Winston, Yalobusha, and Yazoo South Carolina: Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens Tennessee: Bedford, Benton, Cannon, Carroll, Cheatham, Chester, Clay, Coffee, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, Dekalb, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Franklin, Gibson, Giles, Grundy, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Maury, McNairy, Montgomery, Moore, Obion, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Sequatchie, Shelby, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Tipton, Trousdale, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, Weakley, White, Williamson, and Wilson 911 Services The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) learns the status of communications services provided to each Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) through the filings of 911 Service Providers in DIRS, reporting to the FCC’s Public Safety Support Center, coordination with state and territory 911 Administrators, and, if necessary, direct contact with individual PSAPs. There are no PSAPs reported in DIRS as being affected. Wireless Services Percent of Cell Sites Out of Service The following section describes the status of wireless communications services in the disaster area as reported in DIRS. The following tables provide information on cell sites out of service by county. There is less than 4.4% of the cell sites in the affected area reported in DIRS as being out of service. Kentucky: State Affected Counties Cell Sites Served Cell Sites Out Percent Out Cell Sites Out Due to Damage Cell Sites Out Due to Transport Cell Sites Out Due to Power Cell Sites Up but On Back-up Power KY ALLEN 20 2 10% 0 0 2 5 KY BARREN 40 0 0% 0 0 0 2 KY BELL 29 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY BREATHITT 19 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY BUTLER 31 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY CALLOWAY 33 2 6.1% 0 2 0 0 KY CASEY 14 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY CHRISTIAN 58 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY CLAY 25 1 4% 0 0 1 2 KY CLINTON 13 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY CUMBERLAND 13 0 0% 0 0 0 3 KY FLOYD 36 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY GREEN 13 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY HARLAN 46 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY HART 33 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY JACKSON 15 0 0% 0 0 0 2 KY KNOTT 26 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY KNOX 31 2 6.5% 0 1 1 2 KY LAUREL 53 3 5.7% 2 0 1 2 KY LEE 17 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY LESLIE 20 1 5% 0 0 1 3 KY LETCHER 25 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY LINCOLN 22 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY LOGAN 31 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY METCALFE 20 2 10% 0 2 0 0 KY MONROE 15 2 13.3% 0 0 2 4 KY OWSLEY 7 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY PERRY 28 1 3.6% 0 0 0 1 KY PIKE 73 0 0% 0 0 0 1 KY PULASKI 62 4 6.5% 0 0 3 7 KY ROCKCASTLE 24 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY RUSSELL 21 0 0% 0 0 0 1 KY SIMPSON 16 0 0% 0 0 0 1 KY TAYLOR 21 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY TODD 16 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY TRIGG 18 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY WARREN 88 0 0% 0 0 0 0 KY WAYNE 21 1 4.8% 0 0 1 3 KY WHITLEY 40 1 2.5% 0 0 1 3 Total 1133 22 1.9% 2 5 13 42 There is 1.9% of cell sites reported as being out of service in the areas of Kentucky impacted by the severe winter weather. Mississippi: State Affected Counties Cell Sites Served Cell Sites Out Percent Out Cell Sites Out Due to Damage Cell Sites Out Due to Transport Cell Sites Out Due to Power Cell Sites Up but On Back-up Power MS ADAMS 32 2 6.3% 0 0 2 1 MS ALCORN 42 12 28.6% 0 0 8 19 MS AMITE 22 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS ATTALA 25 1 4% 0 0 1 1 MS BENTON 18 4 22.2% 0 0 4 10 MS BOLIVAR 27 8 29.6% 0 3 5 5 MS CALHOUN 18 3 16.7% 0 1 1 2 MS CARROLL 22 7 31.8% 0 1 6 9 MS CHICKASAW 22 0 0% 0 0 0 1 MS CHOCTAW 16 0 0% 0 0 0 3 MS CLAIBORNE 14 2 14.3% 0 0 1 8 MS CLARKE 32 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS CLAY 14 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS COAHOMA 22 4 18.2% 0 3 1 0 MS COPIAH 35 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS COVINGTON 26 1 3.8% 0 0 1 0 MS DESOTO 134 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS FRANKLIN 27 0 0% 0 0 0 3 MS GRENADA 32 8 25% 0 0 8 9 MS HINDS 211 0 0% 0 0 0 7 MS HOLMES 29 6 20.7% 0 0 6 15 MS HUMPHREYS 8 6 75% 0 3 3 1 MS ISSAQUENA 4 1 25% 0 0 1 1 MS ITAWAMBA 34 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS JASPER 34 0 0% 0 0 0 2 MS JEFFERSON 33 1 3% 0 0 1 3 MS JEFFERSON DAVIS 13 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS JONES 58 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS KEMPER 29 2 6.9% 0 1 1 4 MS LAFAYETTE 99 25 25.3% 0 0 24 18 MS LAUDERDALE 97 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS LAWRENCE 14 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS LEAKE 42 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS LEE 85 2 2.4% 0 1 1 5 MS LEFLORE 27 7 25.9% 0 2 4 6 MS LINCOLN 50 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS LOWNDES 68 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS MADISON 113 1 0.9% 0 0 1 4 MS MARION 33 1 3% 0 0 1 7 MS MARSHALL 48 10 20.8% 0 1 7 9 MS MONROE 51 0 0% 0 0 0 3 MS MONTGOMERY 20 4 20% 0 0 3 5 MS NESHOBA 37 1 2.7% 0 1 0 0 MS NEWTON 32 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS NOXUBEE 16 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS OKTIBBEHA 60 0 0% 0 0 0 3 MS PANOLA 36 7 19.4% 0 0 6 5 MS PIKE 47 1 2.1% 0 0 1 7 MS PONTOTOC 46 13 28.3% 0 0 11 17 MS PRENTISS 25 5 20% 0 0 5 5 MS QUITMAN 9 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS RANKIN 177 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS SCOTT 36 1 2.8% 0 0 1 1 MS SHARKEY 10 3 30% 0 0 3 4 MS SIMPSON 32 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS SMITH 25 1 4% 0 1 0 0 MS SUNFLOWER 20 6 30% 0 1 5 5 MS TALLAHATCHIE 15 3 20% 0 0 3 5 MS TATE 52 1 1.9% 0 0 1 3 MS TIPPAH 28 10 35.7% 0 0 8 13 MS TISHOMINGO 25 4 16% 0 0 4 10 MS TUNICA 24 1 4.2% 0 1 0 3 MS UNION 35 11 31.4% 0 0 9 12 MS WARREN 60 2 3.3% 0 0 2 6 MS WASHINGTON 32 3 9.4% 0 0 3 3 MS WAYNE 33 0 0% 0 0 0 0 MS WEBSTER 19 1 5.3% 0 0 1 4 MS WINSTON 30 1 3.3% 0 0 1 2 MS YALOBUSHA 22 3 13.6% 0 0 3 11 MS YAZOO 44 8 18.2% 0 2 6 13 Total 2807 204 7.3% 0 22 164 293 There is 7.3% of cell sites reported as being out of service in the areas of Mississippi impacted by the severe winter weather. South Carolina: State Affected Counties Cell Sites Served Cell Sites Out Percent Out Cell Sites Out Due to Damage Cell Sites Out Due to Transport Cell Sites Out Due to Power Cell Sites Up but On Back-up Power SC GREENVILLE 473 1 0.2% 0 0 1 4 SC OCONEE 112 3 2.7% 0 1 2 6 SC PICKENS 151 3 2% 0 0 3 7 Total 736 7 1.0% 0 1 6 17 There is 1% of cell sites reported as being out of service in the areas of South Carolina impacted by the severe winter weather. Tennessee: State Affected Counties Cell Sites Served Cell Sites Out Percent Out Cell Sites Out Due to Damage Cell Sites Out Due to Transport Cell Sites Out Due to Power Cell Sites Up but On Back-up Power TN BEDFORD 46 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN BENTON 27 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN CANNON 18 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN CARROLL 38 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN CHEATHAM 38 5 13.2% 0 1 4 6 TN CHESTER 20 1 5% 0 0 1 1 TN CLAY 22 2 9.1% 0 0 2 0 TN COFFEE 66 1 1.5% 0 1 0 0 TN CROCKETT 14 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN DAVIDSON 1132 84 7.4% 0 9 63 83 TN DECATUR 15 3 20% 0 0 3 6 TN DEKALB 19 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN DICKSON 62 2 3.2% 0 0 2 3 TN DYER 55 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN FAYETTE 63 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN FRANKLIN 43 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN GIBSON 41 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN GILES 54 1 1.9% 0 1 0 1 TN GRUNDY 25 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN HARDEMAN 37 1 2.7% 0 0 1 2 TN HARDIN 27 9 33.3% 0 4 5 2 TN HAYWOOD 34 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN HENDERSON 39 3 7.7% 0 1 2 3 TN HENRY 37 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN HICKMAN 34 9 26.5% 0 0 8 6 TN HOUSTON 5 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN HUMPHREYS 37 2 5.4% 0 0 2 1 TN JACKSON 12 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN LAKE 5 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN LAUDERDALE 21 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN LAWRENCE 35 2 5.7% 0 0 1 0 TN LEWIS 7 0 0% 0 0 0 1 TN LINCOLN 33 1 3% 0 1 0 0 TN MACON 19 4 21.1% 0 0 4 3 TN MADISON 110 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN MARION 48 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN MARSHALL 37 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN MAURY 79 6 7.6% 0 0 5 3 TN MCNAIRY 37 7 18.9% 0 1 6 11 TN MONTGOMERY 137 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN MOORE 12 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN OBION 39 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN OVERTON 27 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN PERRY 12 4 33.3% 0 1 3 4 TN PICKETT 8 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN PUTNAM 83 1 1.2% 0 1 0 0 TN ROBERTSON 62 4 6.5% 0 0 4 3 TN RUTHERFORD 222 2 0.9% 0 2 0 0 TN SEQUATCHIE 18 0 0% 0 0 0 1 TN SHELBY 1152 1 0.1% 0 1 0 1 TN SMITH 20 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN STEWART 22 0 0% 0 0 0 1 TN SUMNER 133 28 21.1% 0 5 23 24 TN TIPTON 45 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN TROUSDALE 9 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN VAN BUREN 18 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN WARREN 33 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN WAYNE 17 3 17.6% 0 1 0 1 TN WEAKLEY 40 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN WHITE 25 0 0% 0 0 0 0 TN WILLIAMSON 216 5 2.3% 0 2 3 1 TN WILSON 120 1 0.8% 0 0 1 1 Total 4961 192 3.9% 0 32 143 169 There is 3.9% of cell sites reported as being out of service in the areas of Tennessee impacted by the severe winter weather. The number of cell site outages in a specific area does not necessarily correspond to the availability of wireless service to consumers in that area. See Improving the Resiliency of Mobile Wireless Communications Networks, Order, 31 FCC Rcd 13745, para. 10 (2016) (recognizing the difficulties in accurately depicting the ongoing status of a wireless provider’s service during emergencies). Wireless networks are often designed with numerous, overlapping cell sites that provide maximum capacity and continuity of service even when an individual site is inoperable. In addition, wireless providers frequently use temporary facilities, such as cells-on-wheels (also known as COWs), increase power at operational sites, initiate roaming agreements, or take other actions to maintain service to affected consumers during emergencies or other events that result in cell site outages. Cable Systems and Wireline (Combined) Cable and wireline companies reported 60,039 subscribers out of service in the disaster area. This includes the loss of telephone, television, and/or Internet services. Broadcast: Television station status: · There is 1 TV station reported as being out of service. FM Radio station status: · There are 13 FM stations reported as being out of service. AM Radio station status: · There is 1 AM station reported as being out of service. Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative The Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative was activated for Winter Storm Fern response activities on January 23, 2026. As a reminder, all facilities-based mobile wireless providers operating in the above-referenced areas are hereby notified and required to: (1) provide for reasonable roaming under disaster arrangements when technically feasible; See 47 CFR § 4.17(a)(3)(i) (detailing criteria for activating roaming under disaster arrangements). (2) activate mutual aid arrangements with other facilities-based mobile wireless providers for providing aid upon request to those providers during emergencies; See 47 CFR § 4.17(a)(3)(ii) (explaining what mutual aid arrangements must include). (3) take reasonable measures to enhance municipal preparedness and restoration; (4) take reasonable measures to increase consumer readiness and preparation; and (5) take reasonable measures to improve public awareness and stakeholder communications on service and restoration status. 47 CFR § 4.17(a)(3)(i)-(v); see also FCC, Wireless Network Resiliency During Disasters (June 4, 2024), https://www.fcc.gov/wireless-network-resiliency-during-disasters. Special Temporary Authority (STA)/Waivers/Extensions The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may grant Special Temporary Authority (STA) to permit immediate or temporary operation of certain radio facilities during emergencies or other urgent conditions, as well as waivers to support emergency communications and service restoration. · On January 23, 2026, the FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau conditionally granted Federated Wireless, Inc.’s request for a precautionary, limited, and conditional emergency waiver of sections 96.67(c)(2) and (3) of the Commission’s rules governing the Citizens Broadband Radio Service. The link(s) for the document are as follows: DA-26-73A1.docx , DA-26-73A1.pdf , DA-26-73A1.txt