Just in case you missed it, on Friday, October 6, Alphabet, Inc. (NASDAQ:$GOOGL) – which is the parent company of Google – was given permission to provide emergency cellular service to the hurricane-devastated island of Puerto Rico using balloons.
The FCC disclosed that it had given Alphabet, Inc. the green light to use solar power balloons to bring cellular service to Puerto Rico, which has been left without power since Hurricane Maria hit the island in September.
“FCC issues experimental license to Google to provide emergency cellular service in Puerto Rico through Project Loon balloons,” Matthew Berry wrote on Twitter. Berry is chief of staff to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.
On Friday, Pai announced that he is launching a Hurricane Recovery Task Force, which will entail providing aid to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“It is critical that we adopt a coordinated and comprehensive approach to support the rebuilding of communications infrastructure and restoration of communications services. The Hurricane Recovery Task Force will allow us to do just that,” Pai said.
The FCC license comes as the island continues to struggle to recover from the detrimental effects of Hurricane Maria. According to the agency, 83% of Puerto Rico’s cellular sites remain out of commission, which makes communication on and off the island extremely difficult.
Featured Image: depositphotos/@wolterke
