Free Press, NHMC Condemn Lack of Transparency on FCC Hurricane Response

on FCC hurricane response before basic utilities were restored to storm victims prevented “those with the most at stake from participating in this proceeding,” the filing said. Free Press and NHMC unsuccessfully asked to extend the comment period (see 1802200042). "Barriers to participation in this proceeding have been far too high,” they said. The FCC didn’t do “proper outreach” in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the groups said. “Surprisingly, the Commission failed to publish its request for public comment in Spanish, Puerto Rico’s dominant language.” The regulator should “deeply analyze” the effects of the storms, as it did by holding field hearings after Hurricane Katrina, the filing said. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel repeatedly says the agency should hold field hearings in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. “These events should be easy for those impacted by the storm to attend and participate in, in terms of language, location, accessibility and other necessary accommodations,” the filing said: The agency should also create a story collection tool and do outreach to make victims aware of it, increase transparency about the Hurricane Recovery Task Force, publish a report on its findings, and re-open the San Juan, Puerto Rico, field office. Free Press and NHMC criticized FCC proposed cuts to the Lifeline program. The cuts would “disconnect the Lifeline services of hundreds of thousands of hurricane victims,” they said.