http://wyden.senate.gov/9262001%20Tech%20Corps%20Statement.htm
Remarks of Senator Ron Wyden to the United States Senate
Proposing a National Emergency Technology Guard (NET Guard)
Senator Wyden chairs the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science,
Technology and Space.
"I am interested in discussing with the Senate a proposition that I
think is important in light of the tragic events that unfolded on
September 11, 2001. As all of us understand now, the communications
infrastructure of New York, Washington, DC, and indeed the whole
country, was severely challenged.
"Wireless telephone networks were severely overloaded and crashed.
Wireless Internet access was suspended. Telephone lines were cut, and
communications, for people literally in communities around the East
Coast of the United States, came to a standstill. Even the immediate
communication needs of rescue workers, victims, families and aid
groups were a struggle to coordinate. Survivors often could not let
family members know they were safe. Families of victims had no
immediate central clearinghouse to find information or file missing
persons reports.
"Hospitals were inundated with searches, requests for help and offers
of aid, but no way to match them to each other. Even some of our
nation's premier aid organizations, who have done such a marvelous job
helping rescue workers, survivors and victims' families, faced
immediate and severe challenges with respect to information technology
infrastructure. The New York Times drew a conclusion that I strongly
agree with: There need to be new ways to set up emergency information
systems.
"That's what I'd like to propose. What this country needs is
essentially a technology equivalent of the National Guard: a National
Emergency Technology Guard - NET Guard - that in times of crisis would
be in a position to mobilize our nation's information technology, or
IT, community to action quickly, just as the National Guard is ready
to move during emergencies.
"In our leading technology companies in this nation, there are the
brains and the equipment to put in place this NET Guard, that could be
deployed across this country when we face tragedies like we saw in New
York City. A national volunteer organization of trained and
well-coordinated units of IT professionals from our leading technology
companies ought to be in a position to stand ready with designated
computer equipment, satellite dishes, wireless communicators and other
equipment to quickly recreate and repair compromised communications
and technology infrastructures.
"With Congressional support, the leaders of our nation's technology
companies could organize themselves, their employees, and their
resources for this purpose. Medium and small-sized businesses would be
able to contribute once a national framework was put in place. The
resources from the federal level need not be extensive; people could
be designated from existing human resource pools at major and medium
sized firms and these IT professionals would be trained to perform
specific tasks in the event of an emergency.
"I intend to use the Subcommittee that I chair to initiate a dialogue
among Congressional, corporate, military and non-profit leaders to
begin a new effort to mobilize information technology in times of
crisis. As we seek to prevent future disasters, I believe the
technology professionals of this nation, like most Americans, want to
use their skills, their equipment, and their talents to this call and
do their part. I propose we give leading information technology
professionals a chance to use their ingenuity and creativity to insure
greater safety and stability for our communities and our citizens in
the coming days."
---
http://wyden.senate.gov/9262001%20Tech%20Corps.htm
Wyden Issues Call
for Emergency Technology Corps
NET Guard Would Repair, Restore Communications in Crisis
Washington, DC
- U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today called for the formation of a
National Emergency Technology Guard (NET Guard) to mobilize as a
technological equivalent of the military's National Guard in times of
national crisis, including terror attacks and natural disasters. To
complement other disaster response efforts, Wyden suggested that U.S.
information technology (IT) companies could organize and lead a
national volunteer response team to quickly reactivate and safeguard
the nation's communication capability and infrastructure in times of
critical need.
"As we seek to prevent future disasters, we must still prepare to meet
them. I believe the technology professionals of this nation, like all
Americans, are ready to answer the call and do their part,"
said Wyden. "The formation of a National Emergency Technology Guard
will give them that chance, and insure greater safety and stability
for our communities and our citizens in the coming days."
The September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon
temporarily crippled much of the communications infrastructure of New
York, Washington, DC, and other parts of the nation, hampering rescue
and response efforts. Wireless telephone networks were severely
overloaded and crashed. Wireless Internet access was suspended.
Telephone lines were cut, and communications, for many people, came to
a standstill. Rescue workers, victims, families and aid groups
struggled to coordinate their communication and technology needs.
NET Guard would be a national volunteer organization of trained and
well-coordinated units of IT professionals from U.S. technology
companies. These units would stand ready with designated computer
equipment, satellite dishes, wireless communicators and other
resources to quickly recreate and repair compromised communications
and technology infrastructures. Volunteers would be designated from
existing human resource pools at major and medium sized firms and
these IT professionals would be trained to perform specific tasks in
the event of an emergency.
Wyden, chair of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science,
Technology and Space, intends to initiate a dialogue among government,
corporate, military and non-profit leaders to begin a new effort to
mobilize information technology in times of crisis.
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Received on Sep 28 2001
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