---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <412e6d42-85d2-4a15-aafd-9f94d57112d3n@googlegroups.com> Date: 6 Oct 2020 18:35:46 -0700 From: "Tom Horne" <hornetd@remove-this.gmail.com> Subject: Re: What was behind the nationwide 911 outage? On Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 4:42:49 PM UTC-4, Michael Moroney wrote: > Moderator <telecomdiges...@remove-this.remove-this.telecom-digest.org> writes: > > >The MN Department of Public Safety says initial investigation shows > >something went wrong with one of the vendors who work with CenturyLink, > >the state's 911 provider. > ... > > Why is the 911 system even configured in such a way that something > could take out the whole system? I am sure certain terrorist groups > are drooling over such stories. The regional 911 call centers and > the software behind them should be sufficiently self-contained such > that nothing could take out more than the single call center (if > that). I do know they do need to be able to transfer to other > centers perhaps via special connections. > > (my own experience, this has not been the case. Once I called to > report debris on an interstate highway. Got the local town's > PD. When I explained that they transferred me to the state police, > their responsibility, where I had to repeat everything. A second > incident I wanted to report an erratic driver on another > interstate. I got the local city police, again said it was a SP > issue. Instead I got transferred to an adjacent city's PD, repeated > everything, they said it was a SP issue, then got transferred again > to the SP. > > At least I did my small part to remedy that elsewhere, 8 years > ago. In Big City, if you call 911 you get police dispatchers. For a > fire (or EMT) they had to transfer you to the fire dept dispatchers > and repeat everything to them. After the change the police > dispatchers could enter fire calls directly into the FD dispatch > system, no transfer. I did some of the work for the FD system to > take the data) The problem here is a failure to adequately test the software updates for the 911 system. The vendor needs to devise a test bed that can simulate the workload to a Public Safety Answering Point during a disaster event. Maximal loading of the software updates prior to pushing them out for use by the served PSAPs is the only way that these failures can be slowed or stopped. After 45 years of Fire and Rescue service in a very busy combined staffing career and volunteer fire station I do know that not being able to revert back to what was working before is asking for failure. -- Tom Horne ------------------------------ Message-ID: <861ricaz1j.fsf@telecom2018.csail.mit.edu> Date: 6 Oct 2020 02:06:16 +0000 From: Moderator <telecomdigestsubmissions@remove-this.telecom-digest.org> Subject: AT&T service restored in South Carolina after widespread outage GREENVILLE, S.C. - AT&T service has been restored across South Carolina after a widespread outage on Monday, 9/28. WYFF News 4 got several emails Monday morning from customers saying they are having issues with the service. https://www.wyff4.com/article/atandt-outage-reported-across-south-carolina/34192950# -- Bill Horne Telecom Digest Moderator ------------------------------ Message-ID: <868sckp782.fsf@telecom2018.csail.mit.edu> Date: 5 Oct 2020 23:45:49 +0000 From: Moderator <telecomdigestsubmissions@remove-this.telecom-digest.org> Subject: AT&T shelving DSL may leave hundreds of thousands hanging by a phone line By Rob Pegoraro One of America's largest internet providers is uploading its oldest broadband technology into the sunset. On Oct. 1, AT&T stopped selling digital-subscriber-line connections, stranding many existing subscribers on those low-speed links and leaving new residents of DSL-only areas without any wired broadband. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2020/10/03/att-dsl-internet-digital-subscriber-line-outdated/5880219002/ -- Bill Horne Telecom Digest Moderator ------------------------------ ********************************************* End of telecom Digest Thu, 08 Oct 2020