Federal Communications Commission's Reorganization

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION'S REORGANIZATION

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, earlier today, the Federal Communications Commission Chairman, Kevin Martin, created a new FCC bureau dedicated to public safety and homeland security functions. The new FCC bureau will be named the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau and will handle issues that are currently spread over several separate FCC bureaus and offices. For instance, it will handle enhanced 911 calls. It will handle priority emergency services, an emergency alert system, disaster management coordination, and communications infrastructure protection.

My generation relied on radio. Now all of us have different forms of communications. But there was no uniform communication mechanism such as radio was back in the 1930s or 1940s. Chairman Martin's reorganization recognizes the change in the technologies that can be used for emergency communications.

I commend the FCC, under Chairman Martin, for its leadership in directing the Universal Service Program to play a significant role in rebuilding the communications infrastructure, something that they have announced today also. Since its inception, the focus of the Universal Service Program has been on ensuring that all Americans are connected and able to communicate. As the citizens of Louisiana and Mississippi rebuild and return to their homes, they need to know that they can pick up their phones and make a call, which is why we have universal service. The steps that the FCC announced today, giving priority to rebuilding activities using universal service funds will help both in the short and long term.

The FCC is using these universal service funds temporarily to support wireless handsets, coupled with a package of free minutes for evacuees and people still in the affected area that are without telephone service. The FCC is also helping health care providers and the Red Cross shelters by modifying the health care program to double discounts for public and nonprofit health care providers. The FCC is allowing health care providers to submit new or revised universal support applications--requests for the money--for 2005, since their needs have obviously changed.

On the rebuilding front, universal service will help schools reconnect to the Internet, consumers reconnect to their phones, and telephone companies to rebuild. Specifically, the FCC is designating schools and libraries struck by the hurricane to receive the highest level of priority under the E-Rate Program for 2005 and 2006. They are allowing schools and libraries serving evacuees to amend their 2005 application to account for the unexpected increase in population. They are using the Link-Up Program to provide support to pay the cost of reconnecting consumers to the network as the disaster-struck area is rebuilt. And they are providing BellSouth flexibility to use high-cost model support to rebuild wire centers affected by the hurricane.

In other words, this is a unique use of universal service funds. It took courage to do so. I am proud to hear of the FCC's willingness to work around the clock to assist companies in the affected areas with needed waivers. I also commend the FCC for its plans to establish the new Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. We have all seen the devastation and communications outages caused by the massive flooding and the storm surge.

Certainly, we will have to look at improving our Nation's alert and disaster warning systems as well as our communications interoperability. As chair of the Commerce Committee in the Senate, along with my cochair and good friend, Senator DAN INOUYE of Hawaii, I intend to work closely with my colleagues in the Senate and the House, the FCC, and others on these issues. We will pursue permanent solutions. Chairman Martin and the FCC members deserve credit for having acted so rapidly to deal with the disaster-related issues before us today.

I thank the Chair and suggest the absence of a quorum.

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