FCC Launches Hurricane Task Force

The recent spate of hurricanes that hit the southeastern U.S., Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean over the last few weeks has placed the Federal Communications Commission in the spotlight after millions of Americans were left without access to cellular, cable, and Internet service.

In the wake of the storms, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, a Republican, announced the agency would launch a Hurricane Recovery Task Force as the commission shifts to focusing on longer-term recovery efforts.

Ajit Pai

"It is critical that we adopt a coordinated and comprehensive approach to support the rebuilding of communications infrastructure and restoration of communications services," Pai said when announcing the panel. "The Hurricane Recovery Task Force will allow us to do just that."

The Washington Examiner reports the creation of a formal task force comes after Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria smacked portions of Texas and Florida and devastated Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in August and September. The storms left millions of Americans without power, as well as cellular, cable, and Internet service.

Puerto Rico, however, was hit especially hard by Hurricane Maria late last month. The storm, which hit the island as a Category 4 hurricane, knocked out power for the entire island and destroyed communications infrastructure. As a result, millions of U.S. citizens lacked the ability to reach their families.

As of Oct. 11, nearly 79 percent of cell sites remained out of service, according to the FCC, and just 33.6 percent of cell towers were functioning.

The commission also unanimously approved up to $77 million to restore communications networks in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.