(Sept. 14, 2016) According to Radioworld.com, “the Federal Communications Commission is proceeding with its plan to eliminate field staff and close many offices.”
Meanwhile, few details have been made public about the creation of emergency “Tiger Teams” to handle special enforcement situations and some observers are skeptical that the approach will be effective.
January 2017 is the date the commission will close field offices in Buffalo, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Norfolk, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle and Tampa. These moves will undoubtedly put additional pressure on remaining staff, reported Radioworld.com, “Meanwhile, delays in forming the rapid response teams could allow holes in the enforcement fence to develop.”
“The on-call Tiger Teams are supposed to be based in Columbia, Md., and Denver to supplement enforcement efforts of other field offices and, when necessary, to support high-priority enforcement actions nationwide. Chairman Tom Wheeler testified before the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology in 2015 that the teams would be deployed within 24 hours of an interference crisis. Equipment was to be “prepositioned” at about a half dozen sites across the country,” reported Radioworld.com.
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