Tech bigs to aid island

A TEAM of tech giants are hoping to provide some electronic relief after Puerto Rico’s electric grid and communications infrastructure were devastated by Hurricane Maria.

The government gave Google parent company Alphabet the go-ahead Friday to provide Wi-Fi and cell phone service via balloons. The Wi-Fi fix, dubbed Project Loon, uses solar-powered, high-altitude balloons to provide internet service in remote regions.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised Friday to ramp up production of solar-powered batteries. And Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg pledged to send a “connectivity team” to help restore communications on the island.

Two weeks after the Category 4 storm struck, killing 34 people, nearly 95% of the island’s residents are still living in the dark after Maria wiped out the island’s power network, relying on generators if they are lucky.

As of Saturday, only 422 of 2,671 cell phone antennas are operational in the U.S. territory, according to the Federal Communications Commission. And only 24% of the island’s cell towers are running.

The FCC is forming a task force this week and approved an advance of $77 million to support carriers working to restore telecommunications services, it is also welcoming outside help.