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CFO 'Troubled' By Wireless Network Failures After Hurricane Michael, Wants New FCC Regulations

Tampa Bay Times

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis wants wireless networks to be better prepared for disasters. Patronis is calling on the Federal Communications Commission to enact new regulations.

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis wants the FCC to require new safeguards for wireless communication companies. In a letter sent Friday, Patronis said he is “troubled by how catastrophic the failure of wireless communications have been in this storm.”

Patronis calls on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to adopt new rules for telecommunication companies. He suggests new infrastructure standards to prevent extend downtime and opening roaming agreements between carriers.

A number of officials have complained about wireless failures after Hurricane Michael. Governor Rick Scott, along with Patronis, have singled out Verizon for its slow recovery.

Verizon is giving three months of free service to customers in Bay, Gulf, Calhoun, Franklin, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Wakulla and Washington counties.

Shawn Mulcahy is a reporter and All Things Considered host for WFSU. He graduated from Florida State University in 2019 with majors in public relations and political science. He was previously an intern at WFSU, and worked as an Account Coordinator at RB Oppenheim Associates.