STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER ROBERT M. McDOWELL:
SUPERSTORM SANDY FIELD HEARING
FEBRUARY 5, 2013
First, I apologize for not being with you today in person. Congress recently asked me to testify at
a hearing regarding another matter. That hearing is also scheduled for today. So, unfortunately, I must
remain in Washington.
In spite of my inability to be in New York this morning and in Hoboken this afternoon, I am
pleased that the Federal Communications Commission is holding these important hearings, and I thank
my friend and colleague, Chairman Genachowski, for his leadership. We must all ensure that the
reliability of our nation’s communications networks in times of emergency is second to none. Although
none of us can prevent a natural disaster, we can and must work together to make sure that Americans are
able to contact emergency response services, as well as family and friends, in times of crisis.
I send my deepest condolences to those of you who lost loved ones as a result of Superstorm
Sandy. And I thank the heroic emergency teams who have been working diligently in the recovery
efforts, which unfortunately are still ongoing. Sandy was a highly destructive storm. As we all know,
when disasters occur, mobile and wired communications technologies become literal lifelines; but they
also create challenges. Therefore, in order to plan for future emergencies, I welcome the opportunity to
learn more about what went wrong and what went right. Even though I am not physically there with you
today, I will study the important information we learn today quite closely. I look forward to continuing to
work with you, as well as my colleagues at the FCC, on these critical issues.
