Homeland Security & Infrastructure Protection

Experts at the CTIA show last week call for homeland security, wireless industry cooperation.

Five security experts, during a panel discussion at the CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association) Wireless 2005 conference, called for industry and government officials to cooperate on setting up effective warning systems for terrorist attacks and natural disasters and better wireless interoperability for emergency responders. Jim Dailey, director of the office of homeland security for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), notes that police and fire officers responding to a disaster often have to carry several radios and a bullhorn to communicate effectively. Ron Sege, president of Tropos Networks, argued that metropolitan regions might benefit from wireless mesh network "hot zones." Shortly after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the wireless industry created Wireless Priority Service (WPS) to give emergency responders priority over other communications on a wireless network. Panelists also criticize E911 services; Ed Thomas, an FCC engineering chief, says he only got a recorded message when he tried to call 911 on his wireless phone.

Story from Computer World