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NEWS 
Federal Communications Commission 

News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

445 12th Street, S.W. 
 Internet: 
http://www.fcc.gov

Washington, D. C.  20554 

TTY: 1-888-835-5322

 
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. 
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). 
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

 
 
 

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: 

January 10, 2013 
     Matthew 
Berry, 
202-418-2005 
        Email: 
Matthew.Berry@fcc.gov 
 
 
 
 

STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER AJIT PAI ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND 

HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU’S DERECHO REPORT 

When Americans dial 9-1-1, they must be able to reach first responders without delay or 
difficulty whether that call is placed because of a derecho, a tornado, an earthquake, a flood, a 
hurricane, or a personal emergency.  I therefore look forward to studying the recommendations 
contained in the report released today by the staff of the Public Safety and Homeland Security 
Bureau and thank them for their hard work.  I also am eager to receive and to review the input of 
all affected stakeholders.  Those of us in the public sector must work together with those in the 
private sector to prevent future disruptions to 9-1-1 communications. 
 
In that vein, today’s report notes that had Next Generation 9-1-1 “architectures and 
capabilities been in place in the [areas affected by the derecho], they likely could have 
significantly lessened the derecho’s impact on emergency communications.”  NG 9-1-1 will 
improve the safety of the American people, and it is a critical component of the all-IP world just 
over the horizon.  That is one more reason why I look forward to working with my colleagues 
and the public safety community to facilitate a successful IP transition—beginning with our 
recommendations to Congress, due next month, on the appropriate legal framework for NG 9-1-1 
services.1   
 
  
 
 
  
 
                                            
1 See Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, § 6509 

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