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FCC approves additional funding for Puerto Rico hurricane recovery
The FCC approved a measure today that will make additional funds immediately available for ongoing hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico will receive $51.2 million for restoration efforts and the US Virgin Islands will have access to an additional $13 million. Additionally, the FCC is seeking comment on medium- and long-term funding proposals that will go towards improving broadband and 4G LTE access on the islands.
FCC proposes $954 million to restore Puerto Rico's telecom networks
The FCC is ready to do more to help Hurricane Maria victims beyond a task force and short-term cash infusions. Chairman Ajit Pai has proposed spending a total of $954 million to both fix and expand telecom networks in both Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The measure would offer an extra $64 million in near-term recovery, but would also include $631 million to repair and grow wired broadband as well as $259 million to improve LTE data.
FCC approves $77 million to fix communications in Puerto Rico and VI
Two weeks after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the FCC has approved a measure providing up to $77 million to restore networks there and in the US Virgin Islands. It said that as of yesterday, 88 percent of cell sites were still down in Puerto Rico, as well as 67 percent in the USVI. While chairman Ajit Pai said "since we've adopted this item so expeditiously, carriers will be able to elect to have accelerated payments begin flowing this month," fellow commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said "let's not kid ourselves, this is not enough. The road to recovery is long." The money is coming from the Universal Service Fund, and the FCC says "Any funds advanced under today's action can be used to repair telecommunications infrastructure and restore service to customers across the islands." This payment is intended to cover up to seven months of "high-cost support" and anticipated repair costs for companies that operate the towers, listed below.
