FCC Opens Investigation Into January Verizon Outage, Seeks Public Input on Service Disruptions

The Federal Communications Commission is actively investigating the widespread Verizon network failure that struck on January 14, leaving hundreds of thousands of customers unable to make calls or access mobile data for more than ten hours. As part of its formal inquiry, the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau has launched a public comment period, inviting affected individuals and businesses to document how the outage disrupted their lives and operations.

The scale of the incident has positioned it among the most significant telecommunications failures in recent U.S. history. The outage affected a substantial portion of Verizon's customer base across the country, creating a cascading series of problems that extended far beyond simple inconvenience. Emergency response systems, business operations, and personal safety became immediate concerns as millions found themselves suddenly disconnected from critical communication infrastructure.

Emergency Services and Public Safety Concerns

The FCC's investigation places particular emphasis on the potential impact to emergency services during the outage window. Regulatory authorities are specifically interested in documenting whether Verizon customers experienced difficulties reaching 911 emergency services when the network failed. According to communications from the FCC, emergency calls should theoretically be able to route through any available mobile tower during a network outage, ensuring that distress calls remain functional regardless of which carrier a person uses.

However, evidence gathered at the time suggests this safety mechanism may not have functioned as intended. Multiple emergency services agencies issued public advisories during the outage, warning residents that 911 calls might not successfully connect through Verizon's network. Reports from social media users corroborated these concerns, with numerous individuals describing failed attempts to contact emergency responders while the outage was active.

The regulatory agency is now seeking detailed accounts from anyone who attempted to call 911 during the outage but was unable to connect. The FCC is particularly interested in cases where communication failures may have resulted in harm or injury. Additionally, the agency is requesting input from first responders and municipal governments about the operational impact of Verizon's service failure on their ability to respond to emergencies and provide critical services to the public.

How to Submit Your Experience

The FCC has established multiple channels through which affected parties can contribute to the investigation:

  • Submissions can be filed through the FCC's electronic comment filing system at the agency's official website
  • Direct email submissions describing personal experiences are being accepted at VerizonOutage2026@fcc.gov
  • The comment submission period remains open until March 16

The agency is collecting comprehensive information about the outage's scope and impact, including details about service restoration timelines, the geographic areas affected, and the specific services that were disrupted for individual customers. Businesses and organizations are similarly encouraged to document operational disruptions and any associated losses or complications.

Context Within a Troubling Pattern

The Verizon outage represents the second major network failure affecting a major U.S. carrier in recent years. In February 2024, AT&T experienced a comparable service disruption that lasted approximately twelve hours. That incident proved particularly significant from a public safety perspective—according to reporting from Reuters, the AT&T outage resulted in approximately 25,000 failed emergency calls, highlighting the vulnerability of emergency response systems to telecommunications infrastructure failures.

International incidents further underscore the gravity of these situations. Australia's Optus telecommunications company experienced a massive outage in September 2024 that lasted thirteen hours and prevented over 600 emergency calls from connecting. That failure carried tragic consequences, with at least four deaths confirmed to have resulted from individuals being unable to reach emergency services during critical moments.

Regulatory Implications and Industry Accountability

The FCC's formal investigation signals renewed regulatory focus on telecommunications infrastructure reliability and the critical importance of maintaining redundant systems for emergency communications. The agency's decision to solicit public testimony suggests that regulators are taking seriously the question of whether current industry standards adequately protect public safety during network failures.

The investigation will likely inform future regulatory requirements and industry standards governing how carriers must design their networks to ensure emergency service continuity. As telecommunications infrastructure becomes increasingly central to public safety, emergency response, and economic activity, the regulatory framework governing carrier responsibilities during outages has become a matter of significant policy importance.

Individuals who experienced service disruptions or who have relevant information about the outage's impact are encouraged to participate in the FCC's investigation process before the March 16 deadline.

This article is based on reporting by Mashable. Read the original article.