FCC Looking Into Storm-Related Communications Shortfalls

By John Eggerton
( Broadcasting & Cable )
published

The FCC is looking into communications issues related to last week's Mid-Atlantic storms, an FCC official confirmed Thursday.

The National Association of Broadcasters has argued that its members helped fill an emergency communications void left by problems with cell phone service, while the wireless industry has said broadcasters are just trying to capitalize on the disaster to make a policy point -- getting more carriers to activate radio chips in cell phones.

The FCC routinely investigates problems with emergency communications, so the inquiry is just that, said the official. Its initial focus will be on 911 service.

John Eggerton
John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.