County IT Director Kept Computers Going By Satellite During Storms
Using the example of Hendry county's computer systems, Michael Cook, of
Hughes Network Systems told the House Committee on Government Reform that
government should include satellite broadband technologies in the
government's "Networx" procurement bids. Currently, only terrestrial
broadband is mandated, leaving many government offices and employees
underserved due to geographic limitations. Conventional terrestrial
networks, such as digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable modem, are often
not available in suburban or rural areas, whereas satellite broadband
solutions are available virtually continent wide.
In addition to using satellite broadband for their primary communications
needs, government agencies he said should rely on satellite for emergency
communications in times of heightened national and homeland security, as
well as natural disasters. In Hendry County, which was hits by back-to-back
hurricanes this summer, director of computer operations John T.
Hollingsworth coordinated all Hendry county Clerk of Courts office computer
servers and systems for four days from his home using a broadband satellite
service. Terrestrial-based networks were unable to withstand the hurricanes
and the land-based communications were completely incapacitated for four
days.
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