FCC commissioner pushes Metro on Wi-Fi

A member of the Federal Communications Commission says he is baffled by the decision from leaders of Washington, D.C.’s Metro system to halt a pilot program for Wi-Fi service in train stations.

Metro officials have said that an ongoing pilot program bringing Wi-Fi service to six downtown stations will stop after 45 days so they can examine the service. Republican FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly questioned why the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority couldn’t keep the service operational while it evaluated the success of the pilot.

{mosads}”I am at a loss as to why these critical communications features would be disabled at a set date,” O’Rielly said in a letter to Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld sent Wednesday and released on Thursday.

“Given the overall questionable state of communications capabilities within the entire system, it seems counterintuitive to cease operations of an additional mechanism that the public can use to reach emergency personnel when warranted.”

He posed a number of questions to Wiedefeld about whether the system could reconsider its plan and whether it would later be expanded to other parts of its infrastructure.

Dan Stessel, a spokesperson for Metro, said in an email that the agency planned to review the letter and respond to it.

The much-maligned Metro system is currently undergoing repairs in an attempt to make up major safety shortcomings. That has led to delays across the system. O’Rielly also asked Wiedefeld about ongoing efforts to run cables throughout the system that would improve telecommunications capabilities.

“As a not infrequent rider of the D.C. Metro system, as someone whose family uses the system, and as someone responsible for ensuring public safety communications are available and reliable for the public’s use during times of need, I seek to obtain additional information regarding the status of recent efforts to improve wireless communications within the D.C. Metro system,” he said.