Carriers were on the ground in Maui over the weekend, working to restore communications following the deadly Lahaina wildfires. The FCC also began gathering communication outage information from the carriers, cable systems, 911 centers and broadcasters. Because of the geographically concentrated impact of the Hawaii wildfires, and the need to gain information that is more precise than county-level, the FCC, in consultation with FEMA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, activated a component of the Disaster Information Reporting System called DIRS-Lite, whereby the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau is obtaining more granular, situation-specific information through ongoing direct communications with communications providers.
As of 6 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday, 20 out of 21 cell sites serving Kapalua, Napili-Honokowai, Kaanapali, Lahaina, Launiupoko, and Olowalu were out of service, according to the FCC’s Disaster Information Reporting Service (DIRS). That compares to 100 percent of cell sites not working from last Wednesday through Saturday, according to the agency.
The Maui 911 service is operating though some 911 calls were not being completed “because the Lahaina switch is isolated and some cell sites in the affected area are” not working, according to the FCC. In response, carriers have deployed mobile assets while fixed cell sites are being restored.
Cable and wireline companies reported 16,709 subscribers out of service in the disaster area; this may include the loss of telephone, television, and/or internet services. Four AM stations are on the air: KNUI, KCIK, KAOI and KUAU.
The FCC granted Special Temporary Authority to AT&T Mobility to use several frequencies for microwave backhaul from five cell towers. It also granted AT&T an STA to operate two Cells-On-Wheels and three temporary microwave sites.
As part of public safety’s FirstNet fleet, AT&T has deployable network assets year-round in Hawaii. A portable FirstNet cell site is providing first responders in Lahaina with dedicated connectivity on Band 14, according to President of FirstNet® at AT&T Jim Bugel. “FirstNet and AT&T team members are onsite and coordinating with local, state and federal agencies to deploy additional network equipment,” he says in a blog. Hawaii agencies are now also turning to their own Compact Rapid Deployable (CRD), a cell tower and internet access point for cellular, wired Internet and WiFi coverage CRDs and miniCRDs to deploy FirstNet connectivity. This makes them nimble and provides first responders with command and control to have coverage when and where they immediately need it, according to Bugel.
While crews are gaining ground on wildfire containment, Verizon says it continues its efforts to restore service in Maui. Verizon said in a weekend network update its network engineers’ primary goal in the immediate aftermath is to restore basic connectivity so residents and first responders can connect with the critical resources they need.
There is significant structural damage to cell sites serving Lahaina, so Verizon engineers are working to move a mobile cell site to restore partial service in that community. Verizon engineers are moving tethered drones into the Western area of Maui today that – when fully deployed – will provide cell service from the air for search, rescue and recovery efforts underway. In the Honokowai area, fiber which connects cell sites to the rest of the network is out of service. Verizon engineers are working to connect those cell sites using a satellite connection instead.
Additional disaster response engineers landed in Maui Saturday, bringing with them deployment network assets. Verizon’s Dedicated Impact Response Team and Major Emergency Response Incident Team are also in Maui and responding as the situation evolves.
T-Mobile said it has Emergency Management teams and engineers getting critical temporary wireless equipment set up as quickly as possible. Emergency teams, heavy-duty trucks and generators on the ground in Maui were ready to deploy equipment and set up and refuel generators at sites without commercial power as safety allowed.
T-Mobile said portable cell equipment arrived in Maui and it’s working with local emergency agencies to determine the best location to place it. It’s redirected one of its wireless sites on Lanai to provide coverage for calling and texting in the hardest hit area on Maui.
VSATs (small satellite terminals) and fastback equipment, portable and agile solutions that provide wireless service were expected to arrive over the weekend along with additional microwave and satellite solutions and long-range microwave assets arriving this week.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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