How will the y2k bug effect the communication systems utilized for everyday life. Cell & wireless phones, home telephone lines, microwave communications, wire and fiber optics lines.

Do we have to prepare for a complete "black-out"? Shall I look into to ham and c.b. radio?

What about the press? will we still be able to get local news at the very least?

-- Anonymous, November 14, 1998

Answers

Telephone Central Office switches and PBXs are really just large computers and as such most will require Y2K software upgrades. These upgrades are available from suppliers such as Northern Telecom and Lucent Technologies. It's up to your local Telco to schedule the installation and testing of these revisions.

AT&T is spending close to 1/2 BILLION dollars on their Y2K program and will test with the other major carriers in the spring. Their problem is there is no way they can test with the 1800 +/- local phone companies or with many international carriers.

My guess is that if the power is on you will have local service. Long distance may be hit or miss depending on the success that these 1800 LECs have in upgrading their interfaces with the carriers.

If the power is out then expect TV and Radio to be out also. Experience has shown during hurricanes that Cell phones are unreliable mostly because of congestion. The cell fills up and you get a constant busy signal.

I expect most Hams will be prepared to operate on backup power.

Jim

-- Anonymous, November 16, 1998

Has anyone considered use of the Iridium satellite phones ? After all, they're new so they MUST be compliant, right ? (And if I could have a dollar for every time I've heard that response, I wouldn't need to charge exorbitant Y2k fees...)

What is the likelihood of this kind of system failing ?

-- Anonymous, November 18, 1998

We are a California group who is attempting to build momentum to assemble a nationwide fleet of portable telecommunications platforms that can be deployed to areas affected by communications disruptions due to any type of disaster. A basic network includes 10,000 wireless devices for multiple purposes. Basic networks can be linked to serve over 100,000 emergency services and public utilities personnel, if needed.

All components are compliant, self-contained, portable, and include wireless phones, modems, pagers, fire alarms, security alarms, and even flow sensors for public utilities, if needed. The idea is that this equipment will continue to operate as a closed loop system, if all other backups fail. They are also capable of up- linking to a satellite grid, if available. Our group members are intricately involved in the wireless industry in Southern California and have also been associated in different ways with deploying communications equipment. As a result, we have formed a disaster preparedness model for wireless communications that we hope will backup up soon-to-be overtaxed existing wireless networks.

The key is assembling all components with a capability to mobilize and deploy them, where they are needed most, hence our name, (Triage Communications) We are calling for a national, or global fleet of these networks to be placed on standby to maintain communications for an organizational chain-of-command, at least until the situation stabilizes.

We hope this helps.

Triage Communications Group (619) 457-2129

-- Anonymous, February 06, 1999