Telecom & Satcom Nuggets (2009/10 GUIDE)
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From the FCC
Disaster Information Reporting Systems (DIRS) -- Voluntary, web-based system for Communications Companies
DIRS is a voluntary, web-based system that communications companies, including wireless, wireline, broadcast, and cable providers, can use to report communications infrastructure status and situational awareness information during times of crisis. The FCC encourages all communications providers to enroll in DIRS to be better prepared to respond and recover in the event of a disaster. DIRS will only be activated for major disasters. When activated, it will collect information concerning:
www.fcc.gov/pshs/services/cip/dirs/dirs.html
From Contingency Planning & Management
Satellite Delivers Disaster Relief Assistance
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 as well as Hurricanes Ike and Dolly in 2008 emphasized the vulnerabilities of the terrestrial infrastructures. Critical voice and data communications were offline. Wireline circuits were damaged, and wireless and cellular technologies were knocked out since they are dependant on land-based transmission equipment. These experiences re-emphasized what most planners already knew, the importance of having a truly independent means of communications immune to the components of terrestrial networks.
www.contingencyplanning.com/articles/70766/
From the Satellite Industry Association
First Responder’s Guide to Satellite Communications
When disaster strikes, access to reliable communications is crucial to the efforts of disaster relief operations where quick response translates into lives saved. For those times when the terrestrial communications infrastructure is damaged, destroyed or overloaded, satellite communications can provide a communications lifeline for people on the front lines of public safety and emergency preparedness.
Now there is a new tool to help this crucial first responder community integrate satellite into their communications plans. The First Responder’s Guide to Satellite Communications is a comprehensive overview and tutorial of satellite technology and its role in response to natural or man-made disasters.
Produced by the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), the leading voice of the U.S. satellite communications industry, the Guide is available for free as a public service of the industry.
From Telecom-Recovery
11 Topics for Telecom Overview
Telecom Recovery provides useful information and advice on disaster recovery with an emphasis on communications failures and phone system backup.
From Empirix
The Hidden Cost of Technology Failure in the Contact Center
A new survey conducted among UK enterprises by the Customer Experience Foundation, sponsored by Empirix, has uncovered the dramatic effect that delays in contact center technology projects can have on costs, customer service and business overall.
The survey included UK business, technical and project management staff at more than 100 private sector companies who had experience of contact center technology projects worth over $750,000.
This paper provides an overview of the key findings from the survey, and highlights the importance of thorough testing as part of best project practice. It describes how companies that build thorough testing into their project plans from the beginning are likely to show the attention to detail and organizational commitment that will minimize delays and budget overruns, and avoid projects descending into ‘fire-fighting.’
beconfident.empirix.com/mk/get/CC-OT-WP-costissuessurveypr-092109
From the UK’s Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure
Resilience in Converged Networks: Good Practice Guidance
A new 32-page good practice guide has been published. The CPNI’s abstract states:
From Disaster Recovery Journal
Hosted Phone Systems Provide DR for Communications
According to a survey by the Business Continuity Institute (BCI), 65 percent of businesses feel their telecommunications is the weakest element of their business continuity plan. This DRJ article outlines some best practices to help organizations assure telecommunication continuity and help meet its recovery time objectives (RTO) as it applies to voice applications. Topics include:
www.drj.com/index.php?option=com_content
From Humaninet
Are Your Comms Ready for a Disaster?
This article details the importance of communication preparedness, regularly scheduled “checks” of equipment, service, personnel, and training. Included is a checklist that was designed to help relief/response managers. It applies to satellite phones, BGANs, radio equipment, and any communications capabilities. Topics include:
www.humaninet.org/commsreadiness.html
From VoiceNation
Survey: Companies Lack Voice Communication Continuity Plans
VoiceNation, a provider of outsourced voice telephony and disaster recovery solutions, recently released results of a survey of Fortune 500 companies regarding business continuity planning for voice communication.
The telemarketing survey contacted 400 companies across the country, in industries including manufacturing, shipping, electronics, general contracting and real estate. The survey found that while 381 out of the 400 companies agreed that there was a critical need for some sort of emergency plan if they lost their voice communication platform; only 6 out of the 400 businesses actually had some sort of plan in place. The most startling fact is that 100% of the companies surveyed stated that they would have to close for the day if their phones were shut down for an extended period.
www.voicenation.com/press-release-42.shtml
From GemaTech
Telecom Continuity White Papers.
www.gematech.com/white-papers/Business_Continuity/index.htm
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