DARREN SOTO 
9TH DISTRICT, FLORIDA 
The Honorable Ajit Pai 
QCongrr55 of tbr Wnitrb ~tatr5 
J!)ouse of l\epresentatibes 
mfagbtngton, 1.B<lt 20515-0909 
September 21, 2017 
Federal Communication Commission 
445 12th Street NW 
Washington, D.C. 20554 
1429 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 
(202) 225-9889 
Rec&f Vd('f & tFUJp - t 
ec ed 
ocr 1 i 2011 
~c Mail Room 
Re- Emergency Broadcasting on Cellular FM Chips During Emergencies 
Dear Chairman Pai, 
I urge your full and fair consideration in modifying existing rules to make it mandatory to tum 
on the radio chips found in cellular devices for emergency broadcasting during disaster events 
like hurricanes or wildfires. 
As you likely know, all cellular devices are equipped with FM radio chips but cellular carriers 
tum them off. Given the existing technological capacity and the pre-existing infrastructure of the 
emergency broadcasting system, citizens should be able to receive emergency broadcast 
transmissions during declared emergencies-times when receiving accurate emergency 
information and instructions is of paramount importance. Access to such instructions may be 
impaired during power outages or other communicative interruptions, a person may only have 
their personal cellular device to receive timely and accurate information. Therefore, FM chip 
access is a pragmatic and low-cost solution for people to receive emergency information during 
crisis periods. It merits further consideration in the wake of several recent declared emergencies. 
I fully acknowledge the scope concern and would suggest a narrowly tailored rule, applying only 
to limited situatioi:is and certain types of transmissions (i.e. for emergencies and for the 
emergency broadcasting transmission). 
I urge your ful~ and fair consideration to make it mandatory to tum on cellular phone radio chips 
for emergency broadcasting during declared disaster events. I thank you for your consideration. 
Please contact my ~ffice know if any additional information would be helpful. 
a;~?r-
Darren Soto 
Member of Congress 
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