Commiioner Clyburn Statement on nd FCC National Hearing

STATEMENT OF FCC COMMISSIONER MIGNON L. CLYBURN

2nd FCC National Hearing on Network Resilience and Reliability

San Francisco, California

Good afternoon everyone. I am very sorry that I could not join you in person. But allow me to

thank the Ames Research Center, the career staff of the FCC, and all others who made it possible, to hold

this critically important hearing.

As a native South Carolinian, I know all too well how terrifying catastrophic weather events can

be. And as an FCC Commissioner, I take very seriously the obligation Congress gave us, in the very first

section of the Communications Act, to promote safety of life and property, through the use of wire and

radio communications.

Three weeks ago, we held discussions in New York's Lower Manhattan, and Hoboken, New

Jersey -- two areas that suffered substantial damage to their infrastructure and networks during Super

Storm Sandy. Millions experienced significant communications outages and we heard testimony from

first responders, communications service providers, and government officials about what went right, and

what went wrong. Then and during this, our second national hearing, we seek to explore ways that

stakeholders can promote greater network reliability so that we all have access to communications

services when we need them the most during emergencies.

Those discussions highlighted a few issues worth noting. First, we tend to treat each network as

independent in our current telecommunications reliability framework. But the reality is that one network

is inextricably linked to the other. A person facing a storm surge's rising waters, may have a wireless

device to call for help, but that call will not be answered by a dispatcher without dependable wireline and

electrical networks.

Second, we have to be prepared for the unexpected. As the fires in Breezy Point, New York

demonstrated, related disasters can quickly follow severe weather events. So, we need to be more nimble.

One way to do this is by continuously reviewing laws and regulations and eliminating those that have

unintentionally erected barriers to, for example, temporary cell towers being sited, and fuel trucks from

entering communities that desperately need help.

Third, we should ensure that we can handle calls from diverse communities, including those

facing communications difficulties such as language barriers or accessibility challenges. And what about

our warning network? Are emergency alerts able to be understood by all? True preparedness requires

clear communication.

We may not have as many wildfires or experience the magnitude and intensity of earthquakes as

the Golden State. But what is universally clear, is the fact that addressing the challenges we face, in

preparing for future disasters, will require constant review and fresh thinking. I look forward to

reviewing the testimony from the panelists. Thank you.

LINK:	http://www.fcc.gov/document/commissioner-clyburn-statement-2nd-fcc-nat...
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