The four sitting FCC commissioners issued a joint statement thanking members of the communications industry for tireless effort to get their respective piece of communications infrastructure back into working order. More importantly, they vowed to do whatever is necessary on their end to expedite the restoration. The FCC was quick to grant regulatory relief to the stricken area last week, from quickly turning around requests for STAs and extending CP completion deadline, to allowing AM stations to broadcast at higher daytime levels at night and noncommercial stations to carry advertising when passing along vital information from a commercial source. Click through to read the commissioners' joint statement in its entirety.

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In addition to its other tragic consequences - - including tremendous loss of life and widespread property damage - - Hurricane Katrina severely shook the communications network in the Gulf Coast and restoring all these links will be as challenging a communication mission as we have ever confronted. Dedicated employees from wireline, wireless, broadcast, cable, and satellite companies are working around the clock to restore communications services to millions of customers. We commend the rapid response we have witnessed from all segments of the communications industry. We know that the industry, like those of us at the Commission, is sparing no effort in restoring service to the Gulf Coast.

The Commission has been in continual contact with the industry and has taken prompt action, where necessary, to provide regulatory relief to facilitate restoration efforts. For example, the Commission has created opportunities for providers to deploy alternative means of communication in the affected region. We have also assisted in performing coordination activities between the industry and federal emergency authorities as appropriate. We will continue doing everything within our power to ensure the vitality of the nation's communications network. We are confident that all service providers will do the same.

Our deepest thanks go out to the thousands of communications company employees who, at great sacrifice, have been working nonstop for the past week to repair the communications infrastructure that is relied upon by the entire nation. And, above all, our thoughts and prayers are with the countless victims of this tragedy and their families.