Maintaining Wireless Service for Consumers Affected by Hurricane Katrina, 56690 [05-19158]

Download as PDF 56690 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 28, 2005 / Notices [DA–05–2421] Maintaining Wireless Service for Consumers Affected by Hurricane Katrina Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) take steps to ensure that wireless service providers do no improperly disconnect consumers displaced by Hurricane Katrina because they are unable to pay their bills. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leon Jackler, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418–0946 or Chelsea Fallon, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418–7991. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is summary of the Commission’s document DA 05–2421, released September 7, 2005, in which the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) take steps to ensure consumers are not improperly disconnected from wireless service in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418–0530 (voice), (202) 418–0432 (TTY). Document DA 05–2421 can also be downloaded in Word or Portable Document Format (PDF) at: https:// www.fcc.gov/. Synopsis In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) take steps to ensure that wireless service providers do not improperly disconnect consumers displaced by Hurricane Katrina because they are unable to pay their bills. Hurricane Katrina displaced hundreds of thousands of residents of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and many thousands of these customers rely on their wireless service during this difficult time to remain in touch with loved ones. As of this date, the United States Post Office is not operating fully throughout the affected area, commercial power capability is not yet available throughout the affected area, VerDate Aug<31>2005 and the communications networks (including access to the Internet for online bill pay options) are not at prehurricane capabilities. Based on the representations of a number of wireless carriers serving consumers displaced by the hurricane, WTB and CGB understand that the common practice in the wireless industry at this time is to continue providing service to displaced people who cannot pay their bills in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. WTB and CGB understand that consumers displaced by Hurricane Katrina are concerned that wireless service providers may disconnect service for failure to pay their bills. To ensure that consumers of these services continue to maintain access to their wireless service during this difficult time, all licensees of wireless services serving consumers affected by the hurricane are required to submit a report no later than Thursday, September 8, 2005 verifying their compliance with the standard industry practice of maintaining service to people displaced by Hurricane Katrina despite failure to pay bills. Reports should describe the grace period or other relief licensees are providing for this issue. Reports may be submitted in letter format addressed to the chiefs of the respective bureaus. Electronic copies of the reports should be provided to Katrina_Wireless_Report@fcc.gov. In addition, licensees must also serve one copy with the Commission’s copy contractor, Best Copying and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY–B402, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 488–5300, or via e-mail to fcc@bcpiweb.com. BILLING CODE 6712–01–M FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 16:02 Sep 27, 2005 Jkt 205001 Communications Commission in Washington, DC. DATES: Wednesday October 19, 2005 beginning at 2 p.m. and concluding at 5 p.m. ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th St., SW., Room TW–305, Washington, DC. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffery Goldthorp, the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) at (202) 418–1096 or Jeffery.Goldthorp@fcc.gov. The TTY number is: (202) 418–2989. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Council is to provide recommendations to the FCC and to the communications industry that, if implemented, shall under all reasonably foreseeable circumstances assure optimal reliability and interoperability of wireless, wireline, satellite, cable, and public data networks. At this fifth meeting under the Council’s new charter, the Council will discuss potential recommendations in the areas of E911 implementation and evolution, network security, network reliability, and broadband. The Council will also review the status of various working groups. Members of the general public may attend the meeting. The Federal Communications Commission will attempt to accommodate as many people as possible. Admittance, however, will be limited to the seating available. The public may submit written comments before the meeting to Jeffery Goldthorp, the Commission’s Designated Federal Officer for the Network Reliability and Interoperability Council, by e-mail (Jeffery.Goldthorp@fcc.gov) or U.S. Postal Service mail (7–A325, 445 12th St., SW., Washington, DC 20554). Real Audio and streaming video access to the meeting will be available at https:// www.fcc.gov/realaudio/. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Federal Communications Commission. Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary. [FR Doc. 05–19516 Filed 9–27–05; 8:45 am] Federal Communications Commission. Monica Desai, Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau. [FR Doc. 05–19158 Filed 9–27–05; 8:45 am] Network Reliability and Interoperability Council BILLING CODE 6712–01–P Federal Communications Commission. FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION AGENCY: ACTION: Notice of public meeting. In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), this notice advises interested persons of the fifth meeting of the Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (Council) under its charter renewed as of December 29, 2003. The meeting will be held at the Federal SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Notice of Agreements Filed The Commission hereby gives notice of the filing of the following agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on an agreement to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within ten days of the date this notice appears in the Federal Register. Copies of agreements E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 56690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19158]



[[Page 56690]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[DA-05-2421]


Maintaining Wireless Service for Consumers Affected by Hurricane 
Katrina

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) 
and Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) take steps to ensure 
that wireless service providers do no improperly disconnect consumers 
displaced by Hurricane Katrina because they are unable to pay their 
bills.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leon Jackler, Consumer & Governmental 
Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-0946 or Chelsea Fallon, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-7991.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is summary of the Commission's document 
DA 05-2421, released September 7, 2005, in which the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and Consumer & Governmental Affairs 
Bureau (CGB) take steps to ensure consumers are not improperly 
disconnected from wireless service in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. To 
request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities 
(Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail 
to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 
(202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). Document DA 05-2421 can 
also be downloaded in Word or Portable Document Format (PDF) at: http:/
/www.fcc.gov/.

Synopsis

    In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) take steps to ensure that 
wireless service providers do not improperly disconnect consumers 
displaced by Hurricane Katrina because they are unable to pay their 
bills. Hurricane Katrina displaced hundreds of thousands of residents 
of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and many thousands of these 
customers rely on their wireless service during this difficult time to 
remain in touch with loved ones. As of this date, the United States 
Post Office is not operating fully throughout the affected area, 
commercial power capability is not yet available throughout the 
affected area, and the communications networks (including access to the 
Internet for online bill pay options) are not at pre-hurricane 
capabilities. Based on the representations of a number of wireless 
carriers serving consumers displaced by the hurricane, WTB and CGB 
understand that the common practice in the wireless industry at this 
time is to continue providing service to displaced people who cannot 
pay their bills in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. WTB and CGB 
understand that consumers displaced by Hurricane Katrina are concerned 
that wireless service providers may disconnect service for failure to 
pay their bills. To ensure that consumers of these services continue to 
maintain access to their wireless service during this difficult time, 
all licensees of wireless services serving consumers affected by the 
hurricane are required to submit a report no later than Thursday, 
September 8, 2005 verifying their compliance with the standard industry 
practice of maintaining service to people displaced by Hurricane 
Katrina despite failure to pay bills. Reports should describe the grace 
period or other relief licensees are providing for this issue. Reports 
may be submitted in letter format addressed to the chiefs of the 
respective bureaus. Electronic copies of the reports should be provided 
to Katrina--Wireless--Report@fcc.gov. In addition, licensees must also 
serve one copy with the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copying and 
Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, 
Washington, DC 20554, (202) 488-5300, or via e-mail to fcc@bcpiweb.com.

Federal Communications Commission.
Monica Desai,
Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. 05-19158 Filed 9-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M
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