Open Source Homeland

I’m not sure what it is, but there’s obviously something very fishy about what’s going on with this story. The entire story is written in the “my story went to press before I could get confirmation on a whole bunch of facts that I am trying to telegraph to you, but failing, because it’s complicated and I can’t get enough of the context out of my sources” style.

Congress Probes Emergency Network – TIME
The winning D block bidder, in exchange for use of the public safety spectrum, would build the network and make a profit by selling access to wireless service providers. But about two weeks before the auction was to begin, Frontline announced it was “closed for business.” No other bidders emerged to pledge the minimum $1.33 billion needed to win the public safety block.

The FCC has opened an investigation into a claim that OBriens involvement as adviser for the public safety trust discouraged bidders from participating. OBrien has denied the allegations. Frontline says it did not bid because it couldnt raise the money. If the FCC wants to make the public-private emergency network plan work, it will have to devise a new plan that would be attractive to a deep-pocketed investor.

This is a huge step forward in making common, accepted communications tactics a central part of emergency communications.

Cell Phone Alerts Coming Soon — chicagotribune.com
There would be three different types of messages, according to the rules.

The first would be a national alert from the president, likely involving a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The second would involve “imminent threats,” which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or tornadoes or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction emergencies, or so-called Amber Alerts.

CTA alerts is a rider-to-rider wireless notification utility that allows riders and Chicago Transit Authority officials to communicate status during service outages. I set up the service in August 2005. It has never gone down. I’d say that less than 3% of the posts are bogus or of the “hey what’s up ya’ll?” nature. Here are the components:

• Free public website, www.upoc.com
• Create group with the proper settins (anyone can post, anyone can invite)
• Publicize the site in the most relevant places. In this case, it’s at my brother’s CTA-focused weblog, CTA Tattler. This way, you get the critical mass of people posting and consuming
• Convince the entity with the highest quality information— in this case, the CTA— to participate as a member of the group. This ensures that the service gets all the standard info gets into your service
• Get publicity
• Maintain the group– boot the trolls and the useless types

That’s about it.

• Time spent setting up group: 20 minutes
• Cost to set up group: $0
• Time spent maintaining group: 1.5 hours/ year

The CTA said they were engaging a company to create a custom alerts system, and hired a company for $80,000 to do it. So far nothing has been released.

A fine example of Open Source Homeland— public/ private cooperation to make things better.