Letter to Michael K. Powell Chairman, Federal Communications Commission
August 24, 2003
The Honorable Michael K. Powell
Chairman, Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Powell:
I am writing because I am concerned about the widespread failure of cellular phone systems in New York during the blackout last week. As you know, New Yorkers experienced great difficulty placing or receive calls on their mobile phones. The cell phone systems could not handle the increased numbers of calls and cell phone towers and transmitters lost power because their battery backups only lasted from two to six hours.
I am especially concerned of reports I have received that police, firefighters, and other first-responder personnel were not able to place telephone calls. As you know, the Wireless Priority Service (WPS) is supposed to place subscribers' calls at the front of the cellular phone call queue, but this service is only offered by one wireless provider in New York, T-Mobile. I respectfully suggest that the WPS is so important that it be available to every emergency worker who needs it, no matter what wireless carrier he or she uses.
Cell phones are quickly becoming the top communications choice in New York, and data provided to my office from The Yankee Group, a telecommunications consulting firm, indicates that more minutes will be logged annually on cell phones than traditional land-line phones within two years. For this reason, it is particularly important that New Yorkers have functional mobile phone systems, particularly during disasters.
I respectfully urge the FCC to mandate that all cell phone providers participate in the WSP system. I also suggest that if wireless companies do not increase the volume of calls that they can handle during emergencies, the FCC should establish strict and specific requirements that increase network capacity. And because cell phone service got worse, not better, as the blackout wore on, I urge the FCC to require wireless providers to have more portable generators and a reserve stock of charged backup batteries.
Last week's blackout was a cell phone disaster in New York, and the fact that only one cell phone company can give police and firefighters the call priority we all need them to have is especially troubling. I look forward to working with you to resolve these issues.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator