Fire Island Telecom Service Focus of State Hearing

The Commission approved, pending public comment and further review, temporary use of Voice Link service during the summer months on western Fire Island, where the copper wire facilities were destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. The hearing will be preceded by a public information forum.

The informational forum and public statement hearing will be held as follows:  Saturday, August 24 at the Ocean Beach Community House, located at 157-164 Bay Walk. The forum will be held at noon and the public statement hearing starts at 1 p.m. 

During the informational forum, Commission staff will provide a brief overview of the purpose of the proceeding and next steps.

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material in order to speak at the public statement hearing.  

Speakers will be called after completing a card requesting time to speak.  Disabled persons requiring special accommodations may place a collect call to the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management Office at (518) 474-2520 as soon as possible.  TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711 to reach the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource Office at the previously mentioned number. 

Other Ways to Comment

Internet or Mail:  In addition to the formal hearing, comments may be sent electronically to the Secretary, at secretary@dps.ny.gov, or mailed or delivered to Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.  Your comments should refer to “Case 13-C-0197 – Voice Link on Fire Island.”

Toll-free Opinion Line:  Comments may also be submitted through the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120.  This number is designed to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day.  Callers should press “1” to leave comments.

Formal comments are requested by September 13, 2013, but they will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding.  Comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission.  Written comments may be accessed on the Web site by searching Case 13-C-0197 and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.  Many libraries offer free Internet access.  If you have difficulty understanding English, please call the Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.