FCC Encouraging Staff to Telework Due to Coronavirus

The FCC is encouraging staff to work remotely due to the coronavirus, we were told Thursday. This was expected. See here.

The agency hopes to have a small contingent of workers at its facilities at any one time, staffers were apparently told today, according to our interviews and to a memo.

FCC Chief of Staff Matthew Berry in a memo said he and Chairman Ajit Pai were recommending all who had telework OK to work from home as much as possible. Berry said those who aren't part of a remote work program could seek such permission.

Commission officials noted the increased precautions weren't meant to induce panic, and those we spoke with were acting accordingly. Spokespeople didn't have a comment.

Geoffrey Starks tweeted Thursday at around the time of a commission memo that "as communications policymakers, @FCC should be a leading example of how we can stay healthy and perform effectively with telework. That’s why starting tomorrow, my team and I will be working remotely. We will reassess the situation as facts develop."

Among other commissioners' offices, Brendan Carr's said his staff was teleworking. Other commissioners' offices didn't share their plans.