FCC Launches New Podcast Series

The FCC on Monday introduced More Than Seven Dirty Words, a new podcast series that will feature interviews with FCC officials and staff and others in the communications space to share untold stories, explain important policy issues, and maybe even do the impossible: make telecom interesting.

“One of the wonderful things about the digital age is the many ways to share information, so we’re excited to launch this new FCC podcast,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “What really has struck me during my time at the agency is the dedication that our staff has for the mission of the FCC, and I’m glad we’re able to shine a light on their efforts to make America a better, stronger place.”

Hosted by FCC policy advisor Evan Swarztrauber, guests will share their personal stories behind some of the headline-making news from the commission and break down issues across the spectrum of the FCC.

Also today, the FCC released the first episode of the podcast that comprised the following segments:

Introduction — How did you first learn about the FCC? Maybe it was the court fight over George Carlin’s “Seven Dirty words.” Or maybe it was the fallout from the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. Or maybe it some other controversy. Whatever it was, there’s a lot more to the FCC than the headlines might suggest. This agency has over 1,400 employees and 80 years of history. There’s countless untold stories and unsung heroes, and this podcast will bring you those stories.

“Puerto Rico Se Levanta” — On Sept. 7, Hurricane Irma struck Puerto Rico.  And not even two weeks later, on September 20, Hurricane Maria followed.  The damage was catastrophic, as over 90 percent of the commercial, public safety, and governmental communications systems went down. For those that remained online, fuel shortages, power outages, and other issues further strained public safety and law enforcement operations.  What was the FCC’s role in the wake of these storms?  Evan is joined by Roberto Mussenden, an attorney in the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, where he works to ensure that first responders can communicate with one another during emergencies. They discuss Roberto’s visits to Puerto Rico, the FCC’s response efforts, and where things stand almost a year later.

Each episode will be available for streaming and download at fcc.gov, as well as on iTunes and Google Play. The introduction and the first episode are available for download at www.fcc.gov/podcast now and will be available elsewhere in the coming days.