Sandy Knocks Out 25 Percent of Communications

FCC says it could get worse

Sandy wreaked havoc with the nation's communications from Virginia to Massachusetts and as far west as Michigan. The slow-moving monster took out about 25 percent of wireless, broadband, cable and telephone services throughout 158 counties resulting in dead air for 7 to 8 million people, the Federal Communications Commission reported Tuesday afternoon during a press briefing.

The counties included in the report are part of the agency's Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS), a voluntary web-based system that communications providers, including wireless, wireline, broadcast, cable and voice over Internet protocol providers use to report communications infrastructure status and problems during a crisis.

AW+

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

To Read the Full Story Become an Adweek+ Subscriber

View Subscription Options

Already a member? Sign in