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
- 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.
- Should priority calls be allowed for MD's, private ambulance serivces, or other non-governmental organizations that most people think are doing worthwhile things?
- 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