The San Jose Mercury News has published a commentary by Reed Hundt, former chairman of the FCC, who says that state and federal restrictions on municipal wireless projects harm the ability of first responders and community wireless groups to set up communications networks in disaster-hit areas. He points out that the community wireless groups using Wi-Fi technology were among the The San Jose Mercury News has published a commentary by Reed Hundt, former chairman of the FCC, who says that state and federal restrictions on municipal wireless projects harm the ability of first responders and community wireless groups to set up communications networks in disaster-hit areas. He points out that the community wireless groups using Wi-Fi technology were among the fastest to set up communications for emergency personnel. On the state bills that restrict municipal broadband deployments, he says:
In theory, the legislation has helped traditional suppliers of fixed telecommunications services serve existing and potential customers without competition from local governments. But this public-policy choice has hurt and will continue to impede first-responder access to communications by making it difficult or impossible for cities to deploy on-the-spot wireless broadband communication systems.
To read the rest of Reed’s commentary, click here.
Sascha Meinrath, who is a regular contributor to Muniwireless, has posted numerous articles on this site and on his blog, about their work in the areas hit by hurricane Katrina.
Read these articles:
Community wireless groups help in Katrina efforts
Community wireless emergency response updates
Community wireless emergency response
Also visit RadioResponse.org, the website set up by a group of IT professionals, mostly from the wireless networking community, that focuses on relieving the communication blackouts that result from widespread catastrophe. According to the site, their operations “are currently centered on relief for the people made homeless by Hurricane Katrina. We are deploying a wireless infrastructure in an effort to provide as many shelters as possible with internet and phone service. These communication tools will enable refugees to locate loved ones, and begin to rebuild and recover. The scope of our operation is currently limited to the Bay Saint Louis area, with the exception of the shelters that have been connected in northern Louisiana. However, plans are being made to extend both ways along the Gulf coast, bringing connectivity to as many shelters and rescue workers as possible.
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