Message-ID: <20220328235922.6B7FE790@telecom2018.csail.mit.edu>
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2022 23:59:22 +0000 (UTC)
From: Bill Horne <malQRMassimilation@gmail.com>
Subject: FirstNet and other phone systems for first responders
I was thinking about the story I ran on FirstNet(R), and I wondered
about other systems for first responders, so I did some Google
searches and came up with a couple of other systems which are geared
to allow public officials and other first responders to get calls
through when the network is experiencing overloads.
The web site I came across, which links to info on two other systems
besides FirstNet, is titled "ABOUT PRIORITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICES," and it's from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security
Agenecy. It's at
https://www.cisa.gov/about-pts
Here's my question: should this kind of information be available to
the public? I can think of three things that need to be decided right
up front:
1. Should political leaders enjoy priority on their calls? Let's be
realistic: they won't use the privilege only when there's a
hurricane coming or when the local river is rising.
2. Should priority calls be allowed for MD's, private ambulance
serivces, or other non-governmental organizations that most people
think are doing worthwhile things?
3. Assuming the answer to (1) is "Yes," then I have to ask if
information about the systems which enable that kind of priority
phone traffic should be available to the public.
I'm not trying to start a horse/barn door argument: the information
that these systems exist is already out there, and I can think of four
or five ways to game them just off the top of my head, without knowing
anything else about them other than that they /do/ exist. As things
stand now, anyone trying to keep info on these systems confidential
would be practicing "Security Through Obscurity," which never works -
think about Blue Boxes if you need proof - but I'm curious how my
readers feel about the subject.
Bill
--
(Please remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly)
Message-ID: <d17bcdda-ea78-1e01-3923-c107cecb30c2@panix.com>
Date: 28 Mar 2022 13:24:06 -0400
From: "David" <wb8foz@panix.com>
Subject: Re: AT&T brags about FirstNet's FIve Year Anniversary
On 3/25/22 8:39 PM, Bill Horne wrote:
> 2. What, exactly, is "FirstNet(R)?"
...
> 4. Since FirstNet appears to be a new implementation of cellular, will
> AT&T be required to install backup power that can withstand more
> than a one or two-day outage?
FirstNet is what failed Dec 25, 2020 in Nashville, after the bombing
took out the ATT tandem office with the 4ESS there. It's been described
as a 47 billion dollar debacle.
Part of it is a cell-phone network on exclusive spectrum to prevent
saturation during mass-casualty events. But it still needs not just
backup power, but also connectivity between the cell sites and their
connection to the PSTN telephone network.
When the Nashville firefighters responded, they found their FirstNet
phones were anything but reliable, as they were dead.
