The U.S. Federal Communications Commission said late on Friday it had approved Google-parent-company Alphabet Inc’s application to provide emergency cellular service to Puerto Rico through balloons.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico has struggled to regain communications services. The FCC said on Friday that 83 percent of cell sites remain out of service, while wireless communications company are deploying temporary sites.
WATCH: OUR COVERAGE OF HURRICANE MARIA IN PUERTO RICO
-
![]()
Scientists racing to save ‘Monkey Island’ after Hurricane Maria -
![]()
President Trump visits Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria -
![]()
Trump slams mayor of Puerto Rico’s capital over Hurricane Maria recovery -
![]()
‘We are dying here’ says Puerto Rican mayor to Trump administration after Hurricane Maria -
![]()
Drone video capture immense damage to San Juan following Hurricane Maria -
![]()
Canadians stranded by Hurricane Maria frustrated with government inaction -
![]()
3.5 million Puerto Ricans without electricity, power following Hurricane Maria -
![]()
While Hurricane Maria may be gone, Puerto Rico still faces extreme difficulties -
![]()
Puerto Rico dam dangerously close to crumbling after Hurricane Maria -
![]()
Dam breaks after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico -
![]()
People carried, taken on boats as Puerto Rico homes evacuated following Hurricane Maria
Alphabet, which announced its Project Loon in 2013 to use solar-powered, high-altitude balloons to provide internet service in remote regions, said in an FCC filing it was working to “support licensed mobile carriers’ restoration of limited communications capability” in Puerto Rico.
Earlier on Friday, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced he was forming a Hurricane Recovery Task Force with an emphasis on addressing challenges facing Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
WATCH: OUR ONGOING COVERAGE OF GOOGLE
-
![]()
New Google headphones can translate 40 languages on the fly -
![]()
Google Trekker photographs Alberta habitat for virtual tour -
![]()
Google engineer in the spotlight after memo surfaces criticizing women in Silicon Valley -
![]()
Google fires employee behind gender gap memo -
![]()
Google-owned artificial intelligence firm to set up shop in Edmonton -
![]()
Tech: Google Home Smart Speaker -
![]()
EU fines Google nearly $3.6B for manipulating shopping search results -
![]()
Heritage Minister’s chief of staff lobbied 6 times in 2017 by Google -
![]()
Alberta student a finalist in Google Doodle contest -
![]()
9-year-old New Brunswick student’s Google doodle catches eye of Google Canada -
![]()
Sherwood Park Student in Doodle 4 Google Final -
![]()
Have you ever Googled an illness? Here’s what you should know before going online for advice
“It is critical that we adopt a coordinated and comprehensive approach to support the rebuilding of communications infrastructure and restoration of communications services,” Pai said in statement.
Separately, Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello said in a Twitter posting late on Friday that he had a “great initial conversation with @elonmusk tonight. Teams are now talking; exploring opportunities. Next steps soon to follow.”
Musk, the chief executive of Tesla Inc, said on Friday the company would send more battery installers to Puerto Rico to help restore power after Hurricane Maria knocked out all power on the island over two weeks ago.
Musk said he was diverting resources from a semi-truck project to fix Model 3 bottlenecks and “increase battery production for Puerto Rico & other affected areas.”
In late September, Tesla said it was sending hundreds of batteries that can store power generated by solar panels to Puerto Rico to provide emergency help in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
Comments