Fiber cut in SF area

Thu Apr 9 21:54:07 UTC 2009

Robert M. Enger wrote:
>
> That AT&T has stopped provisioning protection fiber for automatic 
> restoral is mind boggling.
>
> That our crack (or on crack) govt contracting/emergency-preparedness 
> staff didn't demand protected facilities for 911 is another mind 
> boggling issue.
>
911 centers can work just fine without phones.  They use radio for 
intra-agency communications with police, fire, etc.  There is also a 
large ham radio community who jumps in to help with communications when 
needed (testing, simulations, and real disasters).

The primary problem a 911 center has if the phones go out is that people 
can't *reach* the 911 center if *their* phone lines don't work.

jc