Schumer Proposes Cell Towers Get Emergency Power

Sandy disrupted cellphone service in several states, and Sen. Charles Schumer wants to make sure that doesn't happen again. 
 
Schumer is asking the Federal Communication Commission to require that cellphone service providers have emergency power sources.
 
He says the FCC should work with the telecommunications industry and first responder groups to maximize reliability and minimize costs. 
 
When Sandy hit the Eastern seaboard on Oct. 29, nearly 1 in 4 cellphone customers were without communications and some customers lost service for days.
 
An FCC spokesman says the regulating body wants to take a serious look at requiring backup power.
 
And AT&T spokeswoman says the company hasn't seen Schumer's proposal but will continue to work closely with government to prepare for emergencies.