Geek Guard to the Rescue

Ant sends a link about the Geek Guard proposal that is floating around. Supposedly technology companies would form the backbone of a fast-response technology force. But Verizon was and is part of the problem with regard to communications, not part of the solution. A lot of technically-inclined people and groups like NYC Wireless did assist in lower Manhattan after Sept. 11, and they're still helping out businesses and people with no internet/phone connections and not even an ETA from Verizon on when Verizon might get around to hooking them up. If Verizon fulfilled their Geek Guard duties with all the rapidity that they, say, install DSL lines for competing DSL providers, they would have "rescheduled" their disaster response three times and we'd have an appointment for early November right now.

Comments

A Note from NYCwireless

[sportal]

If you are a company, business, organization or individual who has been disconnected (primarily internet access, but VoIP is a possible solution) by the WTC attacks and would like assistance from NYCwireless, send the following information:

• Name
• Company Name
• Address & Cross Streets
• email address and phone number if working or other forms of contact
• # of floors in building
• # of floor you are on
• How many users / computers are disconnected
• Bandwidth Needs if know
• What your "Line of Sight" is like, include a link to a webpage with digital pictures of you line of sight if possible.

Email requests for assistance to wtcreliefrequest@nycwireless.net
Please only send direct request from the affected organizations and individuals.

If you have resources and would like to contribute, the following would be useful:

• Wireless Building to Building LAN bridges
• 802.11 Access Points & Cards
• Antennas (Yagi, Sector, and Omni) and mounting hardware
• Cables, Connectors and Arrestors
• Locations in NYC area with available internet bandwidth
• Locations in NYC area for antenna placements with good line of sight
• Individuals that can install wireless hardware
• Individuals that can install antennas
• Individuals that can provide networking support
• Individuals who can provide VoIP solutions
• VoIP hardware

Email offers to wtcreliefoffer@nycwireless.net

NYCwireless has been very busy working with the affected businesses and organizations in New York. We apologize if we do not respond to every email offering support.

Everyone is welcome to use the latest public NYCwireless access point at Tompkins square park or other NYCwireless locations, especially those affected by the WTC attacks.

Thanks,

--Terry Schmidt
NYCwireless

Give Verizon a break (!)

[xyzzy]

Although I work for a subsidiary of Verizon, I am no particular friend -- but I feel I should say this.

Give Verizon a friggin' break here! They've rebuilt an entire telecommunications network in lower Manhattan from scratch -- on the order of 100k+ lines! Photos have been circulated internally of the West St. switching station -- this being the one that had the antenna mast from the WTC pierce it when it fell -- and the equipment is more or less completely replaced now. And they had the NYSE up and running so they could open a week after the attacks. And all of this is in addition to all the emergency communications needs.

That's a pretty formidible task. Even if they are your bitterest enemy, this is an amazing performance.