Additional funds for Puerto Rico, USVI telco restoration

US telecom regulator FCC has approved an additional US$64mn in immediate funding for short-term telecommunication restoration in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) as a new hurricane season approaches.

Both territories were hit heavily last year by hurricanes Maria and Irma.

The commission said it is also seeking public comments on the injection of around US$900mn in medium and long-term funding to expand broadband coverage.

During last year's hurricane season, hurricane Maria destroyed around 90% of Puerto Rico's cellphone towers and left the island without power for weeks. Despite progress in repairing the damage, the FCC stated in a March report that at the time 4.4% of cell sites in Puerto Rico and 13.8% of the Virgin Islands' were still down.

In its outlook for the 2018 hurricane season US atmospheric authority NOAA expects up to 16 named storms, up to nine hurricanes and up to four major hurricanes, including category 3 to 5 ones. Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30, it added.

In addition to the immediate funding, the FCC also announced it will waive US$65.8mn in previous funding from future universal service support payments. It is also looking for public commentary on three blocks of funding, including US$445mn over the next decade for Puerto Rico's fixed broadband expansion, as well as US$187mn for similar purposes for the US Virgin Islands, as well as US$259mn of medium-term financing for 4G LTE expansion.

"The Commission's action today will not only help complete the recovery from last year's devastating storms, but seeks comment on much-needed funding for long-term improvement and expansion of broadband throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands," FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was quoted as saying.

In April, the US department of housing and urban development (HUD) granted US$18.4bn of disaster relief to Puerto Rico, mainly to finance infrastructure and housing reconstruction.