Ayotte, Shaheen, Collins Urge FCC to Reconsider Proposal to Close Boston Field Office
Press Release
U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today wrote to the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging him to reconsider the commission's proposal to close the Boston field office. The proposal to close the Boston field office is part of the FCC's larger restructuring effort to reduce the number of field offices.
"We support efforts to update and modernize agency policies in order to effectively administer laws and regulations, yet such measures should be balanced with the Commission's ability to carry out its duties in a timely fashion," wrote the Senators. "We urge the FCC to carefully consider these concerns in order to reach a balanced solution that safeguards local area knowledge and public safety in New England and throughout the country, while also providing for more streamlined operations of the field offices."
New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters (NHAB) Executive Director Jordan Walton said, "With the wireless spectrum becoming increasingly crowded, we applaud the efforts by Senator Ayotte and others to make sure that the needs of radio listeners and television viewers to receive interference free news, weather, entertainment and emergency information remain intact into the future."
Jot Carpenter, Vice President of Government Affairs at CTIA - the Wireless Association, said, "CTIA greatly appreciates and shares the concern expressed by Senators Ayotte, Shaheen and Collins. Field staff play a critical role in the timely resolution of interference issues, something that is of vital importance to our carriers and, ultimately, to the consumers who rely on mobile voice and broadband services."
Douglas Aiken, Deputy Chief of Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid in Laconia, said, "The local presence of FCC field engineering personnel is critical to maintaining public safety communications. Local knowledge and awareness of the wireless landscape saves days when accidental or intentional interference is encountered."
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