Facebook once aimed to connect the world. Now it would be happy just to reconnect part of it - and Google and others hope to join it.
In the wake of Hurricane Maria, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg pledged to send a "connectivity team" to help restore communications in storm-ravaged Puerto Rico.
Google parent company Alphabet offered to float its Project Loon balloons over the island, bringing Wi-Fi service to hard-to-reach places.
>> Boston residents concerned for safety of family members in Puerto Rico
The new @FCC Hurricane Recovery Task Force will emphasize addressing the challenges facing Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands. #Maria
— The FCC (@FCC) October 6, 2017
The Federal Communications Commission approved an experimental license for Project Loon, spokeswoman Tina Pelkey confirmed Saturday.
But an Alphabet spokeswoman said the company is still trying to figure out how to make it work.
>> Maria destroys homes, triggers flooding in Puerto Rico
Beside Facebook and Google, Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised Friday to ramp up production of solar-powered batteries that could help restore electricity.
The internal Tesla Powerwall install team in PR is very small right now. Sending experienced installers from continental US to hire & train local team as fast as possible.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 6, 2017
Associated Press
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/OHRUQIP57RDPBOMRIIDAJZOGSY.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/T7EAK55NY32DBBYVRUNAUZEOUE.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/NANYPSX3DVGVPMHKU27WKUUENY.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/MVZKZVRFGBHOPGBNTKZNUEPPJA.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/L7Q7H4RII5CGFN4UTCI7G3LV3M.jpg)