Rep. Frank Pallone Introduces 'SANDy Act' To Aid Communications In Emergencies

Pallone

Rep. FRANK PALLONE (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced a bill MONDAY (11/16) to avoid the kind of communications system breakdowns that followed Hurricane Sandy.

The "Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act" – the "SANDy Act" -- would ensure radio, TV, and cell phone providers will be able to fix outages faster, require that cell phones be able to roam on other carriers' networks in an emergency, work on making 911 service available via Wi-Fi hotspots, and increase coordination between wireless carriers, utilities, and public safety officials.

“During the storm and for weeks afterwards, many of us were left stranded, with no way to reach friends, to call loved ones, or even to call for help,” said PALLONE, remembering the hurricane three years after it battered his state and the mid-Atlantic region. “That is simply unacceptable.  So today I am introducing the SANDy Act to ensure we can all communicate, even when the worst occurs. We must do everything we can to be better prepared for the next time disaster strikes.”

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