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Senator Alex PadillaSACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Senator Alex Padilla, Chair of the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee will speak at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) public hearing regarding challenges to the nation’s communications networks during emergencies and natural disasters, and how innovative technology can enhance communication during emergencies. Senator Padilla will focus his comments on the need for an Earthquake Early Warning System.

Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field.

“I applaud the FCC for holding this hearing here in California. The innovations of California-based entrepreneurs are changing every aspect of modern life and will surely transform public safety communications as well. We consider California the “epicenter” of the global Internet economy and the new “app economy.” Unfortunately, we are also an epicenter of seismic activity,” Padilla said. “Mitigating harm from an earthquake should be one of our highest priorities. And, given California’s prominence in population and economic output, it should be a national priority,” Padilla added.

Who: Senator Alex Padilla, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, FCC Commissioners

Link to Agenda: http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2013/db0226/DA-13-289A1.doc

What: FCC hearing to discuss resiliency and use of communications networks during emergencies and natural disasters and employing innovative social media, open data and geo-location apps to enhance communications during emergencies.

When: Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.
Where: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035

Senator Padilla, Chair of the California Senate’s Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, held a hearing two weeks ago that focused on how California can implement Next Generation 911, new wireless emergency alert systems, and public safety broadband networks to create an efficient and effective communications platform that enables both the public to contact emergency services during a crisis and government to keep the public informed regarding how to stay safe.

Senator Alex Padilla, 39, graduated from MIT with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He currently serves on the Board of MIT and is President of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. He is Chair of the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee and represents the more than 1,100,000 residents of the 20th State Senate District in Los Angeles.