Pallone Seeks GAO Probe 'Communications Failures,' Restoration After 2017 Hurricane

to improve its response to the active 2017 hurricane season, including “increased engagement” with critical infrastructure players, and more backhaul provider participation in the carriers’ wireless resiliency cooperative framework (WRCF). Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel criticized the report (see 1808240052). “Communications network failures in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were deeply detrimental to their residents, and may have even caused additional deaths in Puerto Rico,” Pallone wrote GAO Comptroller General Gene Dodaro. “To prevent similar failures in the future, it is critical that we understand what happened during the hurricane and its aftermath, and what could be improved.” The review should examine FCC response to the communications failures, including whether it differed “from the agency's response to hurricanes that hit the U.S. mainland,” and how it's “tracking” the disbursement of enhanced USF support for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to help them recover (see 1805290028), Pallone said. He wants to know how the FCC disaster information reporting system can be “a more meaningful source of information." Pallone asked GAO to review whether there were problems with the WRCF (see 1905090045). “The FCC’s response to Hurricanes Maria and Irma was unprecedented,” a spokesperson said, citing the increased USF funding and commissioners' unanimous approval last week of $950 million (see 1909270025). “The FCC will continue to work with” federal and local officials “to connect everyone in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with digital opportunity and strengthen the resilience of the islands’ communications networks.”