Hello, Can anyone get these people to acknowledge what WISP's have done? Or are we really the ugly stepchild??
Barry This is from The Jeff Pulver Blog at: http://pulverblog.pulver.com/archives/002817.html September 09, 2005 VoIP: Proving to be Effective in Katrina Emergency Special thanks to Jim Kohlenberger of the VON Coalition for maintaining the following list of stories. According to Jim, "This is a summary of some of the ways the IP Communications industry is responding to Katrina (largely based on news stories and company releases). It turns out that the ability to set up VoIP services on the fly, from any network, has proved to be critical in an emergency. The industry has stepped forward to help FEMA, the Red Cross, and the Army communicate, to help connect the refugees in the astrodome, to help field calls for telethons, to help first responders communicate, to help connect hospitals who are disconnected, and to help utility workers working to restore services communicate with each other. It is quite an amazing story, and I know it is just the beginning." If there are other stories you are aware of and would like to see included in this growing summary, please send me a paragraph, a news release, or any other background and I will share it with Jim. Also, please feel free to include stories from bloggers where IP Communications has been used to help. VoIP: Proving to be Effective in Katrina Emergency IP based voice communications are playing a critical role in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The unique mobility and decentralized aspects of VoIP are being utilized by FEMA, hospitals, emergency responders, for telethon call centers, and utility workers who are restoring service. VoIP Delivers Free Calling for FEMA, 1,000 VoIP Lines in the AstroDome, and Phone Service For Refugees. AT&T is establishing IP-based calling centers where directed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to give evacuees and emergency workers access to free calling. The first of these centers is expected to be operational within a week. In Houston, AT&T is working with Avaya, Cisco Systems and SBC to establish a communications network for refugees moved to the Astrodome. The coalition of VoIP companies will deliver local, long distance and Internet service to refugees. More than 1,000 phone lines, as well as a data infra-structure, will be available near the Astrodome. AT&Ts IP infrastructure will make Houston the hub for a VoIP network to support refugee camps throughout the region. (INFOWORLD, September 02, 2005) VoIP Being Deployed By Mobile Command Center For Fire, Rescue and Law Enforcement Agencies. In an area of vast devastation in Mississippi with no traditional phone lines, cell phone or public safety radio services, F4W has established a VoIP network to provide critical communications for relief agencies and a lifeline from the disaster area to the outside world. The Tactical Wireless Emergency Broadband (TWEB) network set up by F4W will provide secure wireless Internet and VoIP service over several miles to Mobile Command Centers and vehicles from fire, rescue, and law enforcement agencies. The network utilizes Motorola, Tachyon, and Panasonic equipment as well as F4W control software and network devices. (Source: VoIP Magazine, Thursday, 01 September 2005) Internet Telephony Keeps Baton Rouge Hospital In Touch. Baton Rouge General Hospital, who still had a broadband connection after the hurricane but no long distance, called up Vonage and asked for help. Vonage helped them get set up with VoIP so the hospital can dial out of Baton Rouge. The hospital ultimately used nine voice-over IP converters and wireless-enabled laptops with VoIP software installed for long distance communications and to set up a public branch exchange for communications within the hospital and sharing patient data. (Government Technology, Aug 31, 2005, By Corey McKenna, http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php/96493) Satellite Based VoIP Helping Put Utility Repair Crews In Touch To Restore Service. Siemens Enterprise Networks is working with a power utility in Mississippi that has been sending repair crews into the field with voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones to make wireless calls via a satellite network. The VoIP system has been the main means of voice communications for utility crew supervisors in the field. In this case, Siemens acted as integrator to arrange for satellite network bandwidth, allowing the users to connect to a Siemens IP-based voice switch in Atlanta. With the Siemens VoIP phones, the workers can make five-digit calls over a familiar device to co-workers without needing special codes for the satellite links.(Source: ComputerWorld, Telecoms face 'one big mess' in US Gulf Coast region, Matt Hamblen, Sept, 2 2005) Rapid VoIP Deployments Help Get Emergency Phone Services Up and Running. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) is the first organization to deploy a pre-configured VoIP kits to gain phone service and Internet access in the wake of Katrina. 3Com Corporation is donating the VoIP equipment to emergency and government organizations to support their communications needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Each kit includes a VoIP phone system with voice mail and auto attendant, which will enable DHH to provide all callers with recorded information on recovery efforts and to the ability to route calls to the appropriate emergency personnel. The phone systems can also be networked so that calls can be transferred between multiple locations. Wireless routers and other networking equipment will further enable reliable communication until the state's infrastructure is repaired. (Source: 3Com Release 9/1/05) VoIP Used To Rapidly Set Up Red Cross NBC Telethon For Relief. When NBC hosted a Red Cross telethon, Teletech used its VoIP call center technology to answer an anticipated half a million calls from donors making pledges during the telethon. (September 02, 2005, Katrina Red Cross Concert By RICH TEHRANI, TMCnet) VoIP Service Proves Critical For Cajundome Refugees. Although only 70 miles from New Orleans, Lafayette was spared the worst of the storm and now is caring for refugees. Volunteers at the Cajundome refuge center in Lafayette in less than 8 hours help set up a 100 meg connection and a wireless access point...by the next afternoon a VOIP system had been put in place. The VOIP phones have proven invaluable. ...To actually hear the voices of friends or to contact the world which mostly still exists offline is crucial. (Lafayette Coming Together) Web Phones for Shelters Project Launched. Volunteers in Lafayette Louisiana have come together to help the refugees from Katrina communicate with family and friends. Web Phones for Shelters is a Project of the Lafayette Technology Community and the LCT Digital Divide Committee. LCT members have put together contacts with concerned folks at Cisco and IConverge to make available internet-based phones which will allow refugees to make free phone calls anywhere in the country to friends and family. Cisco is providing the internet phones which will backhaul to IConverge softswitches which will connect the phones to phone network. (Source: http://www.lafayettecomingtogether.org/webphones.htm) Red Cross Equips a Fleet of SUVs with VoIP For Mobile Voice Services. the Red Cross has equipped a fleet of SUVs with IP communications equipment and VSAT (very small aperture terminal) antennas for satellite communications. Each vehicle in the fleet includes Wi-Fi equipment, VoIP phones and wireless laptops to set up a communications center. In some areas these vehicles provide the only voice communication available. (Source: New Telephony, VoIP Demonstrates Strengths in Katrina Aftermath, 09/06/2005) Army uses VoIP to Communicate. The Army has used satellite as the Internet link for a VoIP network that transmits terrestrially on National Guard Internet bandwidth. (Source: New Telephony, VoIP Demonstrates Strengths in Katrina Aftermath, 09/06/2005) Posted by jeff at September 9, 2005 06:46 AM -- Best regards, Barry mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
