FCC to Look Into Ensuring Cell Towers Stay On After Severe Weather

The Federal Communications Commission will hold field hearings across the New York area to determine what steps need to be taken to ensure that cell towers don’t lose power for days or weeks in the wake of severe storms. This will also include terrorist attacks or other events that cause power failures.

Last week U.S. Senator Charles Schumer requested that the FCC develop such a plan, and said he will work closely with the commission going forward. Schumer said the FCC will work with the telecommunications industry, first responders, state and local officials, customers and academic experts to develop the recommendations.

Schumer noted that a nationwide plan to ensure the functionality of cell towers has long been discussed, but never implemented, partly because of cost and partly because of industry opposition.

Schumer said approximately 33 percent of phone users now rely exclusively on wireless technology, and an estimated one out of every four towers in the impacted areas were down after superstorm Sandy hit.