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Monday 9 october 2017 BUSINESS
A24

Big Tech has big plans to help reconnect Puerto Rico

By MATT O’BRIEN wireline, TV and radio out-
AP Technology Writer ages remain in both U.S. ter-
Facebook and Google ritories. The agency formed
once aimed to connect a task force this week and
the world. Now they would approved an advance of
be happy just to reconnect $77 million to support carri-
part of it. ers working to restore tele-
In the wake of Hurricane communications services.
Maria, Facebook CEO VAGUE PROMISES
Mark Zuckerberg pledged But many offers of help
to send a “connectivity from big companies remain
team” to help restore com- somewhat vague. Google
munications in ravaged parent company Alphabet
Puerto Rico. Google par- has proposed launching
ent company Alphabet balloons over the island to
offered to send its Wi-Fi bal- bring Wi-Fi service to hard-
loons. They were among to-reach places, as it has in
several tech companies other parts of the world.
proposing disaster re- The FCC announced Sat-
sponse ideas, most aimed urday that it’s approved
at getting phone and inter- an experimental license
net service up and running. for Project Loon to oper-
Some of these plans, of ate in Puerto Rico. But that In this Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017 file photo, power lines are down after the impact of Hurricane
course, are more aspira- doesn’t mean it will able to Maria, which hit the eastern region of the island in Humacao, Puerto Rico.
tional than others. get them in the air anytime Associated Press
BATTERY POWER soon.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk of- “We’re grateful for the sup- other Caribbean islands. and the Virgin Islands. Aid dents started getting text
workers are pairing Vanu’s alerts from family members
ten takes to Twitter to mull port of the FCC and the “Communication is critical
over ideas, but on Friday Puerto Rican authorities as during a disaster,” Zucker- devices with other technol- who had been trying to get
in touch.“They noticed ev-
ogy, such as inflatable sat-
his musings about send- we work hard to see if it’s berg said after the hurri-
ing his company’s solar- possible to use Loon bal- cane hit, announcing that ellite antennas. eryone in the plaza pulling
After setting up a network their phones out,” said CEO
powered batteries to help loons to bring emergency employees from his com-
restore Puerto Rico’s power connectivity to the island pany’s connectivity team on the island of Vieques, off Vanu Bose. “You don’t
the main island of Puerto have to announce you’ve
attracted the attention of during this time of need,” — the same group work-
the island’s governor. said Libby Leahy, a spokes- ing to build high-altitude Rico, one team watched lit up coverage. People
from a roof as local resi-
know right away.”q
“Let’s talk,” said Gov. Ri- man for Alphabet’s X divi- drones that can beam
cardo Rossello in a Friday sion.But there are limita- internet service down to
tweet . tions, she said Saturday. Earth — were heading to
Musk agreed. Hours later, “To deliver signal to peo- Puerto Rico. But with its
he announced he was ple’s devices, Loon needs aircraft still in the testing
delaying the unveiling of be integrated with a telco phase, the company said
Tesla’s new semi-truck and partner’s network — the Friday that the engineers
diverting resources, in part balloons can’t do it alone,” it’s sent to Puerto Rico are
to “increase battery pro- she said, adding that the focused on providing sup-
duction for Puerto Rico and company is “making solid port to NetHope’s teams.
other affected areas.” progress on this next step.” SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS
The need for help in restor- COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS Much of the ground work
ing power and communi- Cisco Systems has sent a is being spearheaded by
cation after Hurricane Ma- tactical team and says it is nonprofit organizations
ria is great: The Puerto Rican working with local govern- and small firms with exper-
energy authority reported ment, emergency respond- tise in rural or emergency
Saturday that about 88 ers and service providers communications.
percent of the island is still to facilitate restoration Lexington, Massachusetts-
without power. The Federal and recovery efforts. The based Vanu Inc., which
Communications Commis- company, along with Mi- sets up wireless commu-
sion said Saturday that 82 crosoft and others, backs nications networks in rural
percent of cell sites remain the NetHope consortium, parts of the United States,
out in Puerto Rico; 58 per- which specializes in setting Africa and India, is sending
cent are out of service in up post-disaster commu- dozens of its small, solar-
the U.S. Virgin Islands. nication networks and has powered cellular base sta-
The FCC’s daily status re- field teams now operating tions to volunteer crews on
port also shows significant in Puerto Rico and several the ground in Puerto Rico