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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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