Rosenworcel: FCC Gauging Cellular Impacts of L.A.-Area Fires
The FCC has "boots on the ground" in Los Angeles County, having deployed spectrum survey teams to assess the impact of the wildfire disaster on cellular communications, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Monday. The teams were sent at the request of…
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state officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The agency is using data to identify communications gaps and FCCers also are managing public safety spectrum use and coordinating with government and industry on response efforts, Rosenworcel said. She said the agency has issued special temporary authority grants to keep communications operational. For example, SpaceX received a STA Friday to provide supplemental coverage from space service in wildfire areas to handsets not yet authorized for satellite service, according to the Daily Digest. SpaceX is also providing free Starlink broadband service to people affected by the wildfires (see 2501100064). Skylo said its direct-to-device traffic is up substantially in southern California (see 2501130023).