WASHINGTON, D.C. -- FCC chair Kevin J. Martin was among a panel of government officials grilled by members of Congress about emergency-communications breakdowns following the disasters of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.
The problems confronting emergency responders after the hurricane that slammed the Gulf Coast region last month are similar to those that challenged firefighters during the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The lack of progress rankled one congressperson.
"I'm very disappointed to learn that, four years later, we still have a problem with interoperability," said Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas).
Martin testified on Thursday before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet on the issue of how local, state, and federal emergency response units work together.
"It's important to have both interoperability and mobility," Martin said. Noting the problems that plagued emergency response teams in New Orleans, Martin said that inflatable antennas, as well as antennas on wheels, are being examined as ways to restore communications in the wake of emergencies.
Making Progress
After testifying before a Senate committee last week on integrating the 911 and emergency response systems, Martin said significant progress has been made in communications recovery on the Gulf Coast.
He reported that more than 2.5 million customers in the region have landline phone service again, while approximately 264,000 remain without service. Fifty 911 call centers are up and running again, while two remain out of service.
Seven television stations are back on the air; ten are still shut down. Some 79 radio stations are still off the air.
Approximately 450,000 cable customers are without service as a result of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, which struck Texas and Louisiana last weekend.
More Work Ahead
While the numbers suggest that communications in the area are gradually returning to normal, there are still bugs to be worked out.
Representative Chip Pickering (R-Mississippi) recalled that Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour was unable to communicate with emergency responders during the storm, despite having a satellite phone.
"He had to send runners [to communicate]," said Pickering. "It was like it was the Civil War."
Martin is hoping to add another 10 to 30 MHz to the digital spectrum for use during public emergencies. Currently, 24 MHz of the 700-MHz spectrum is reserved for emergency communications.
Next month the Senate is expected to take up a bill that would move television broadcasts from analog to digital format, freeing up radio spectrum space. The bill calls for the switch to take place by 2009.
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