Today, Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the “Green Communications Act” to reduce communications outages during natural disasters and to provide funding to enhance resiliency in our communications networks that are needed as a consequence of climate change.
The bill provides funding for network resiliency projects through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and directs the Federal Communications Commission to establish a communications network resiliency framework as well as to increase the amount of data collected about network outages. Public Knowledge applauds Sens. Markey and Wyden for ensuring that communities stay connected during their hour of need.
The following can be attributed to Jenna Leventoff, Senior Policy Counsel at Public Knowledge:
“When disaster strikes, people turn to their communications networks — critical infrastructure that simply must work to connect with 911, families, and to get important news and updates. In these situations, making a phone call or using the internet can be a matter of life or death. We thank Sens. Markey and Wyden for spearheading the Green Communications Act to reduce communications outages. Our networks should always function reliably, but especially when it counts.”
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