[Ameritrade]
Public Safety Leaders Address Critical Homeland Security Communications Needs
Business Wire - April 14, 2003 15:00
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 2003--
- Mayor Giuliani and Former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Stress the Need for Interoperable Communications for First Responders -
- Nextel CEO and Public Safety Roundtable also Address Interoperability -
Nextel Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTL) today hosted a conference devoted to interoperable communications at the Hilton New York Hotel in New York City.
This event highlighted the pressing advanced communications needs facing police, fire and other public safety and health officials. The event attracted approximately 200 public safety and public health officials from the New York metropolitan area.
The conference showcased interoperability - the idea that all public safety officials must have the ability to connect with one another through reliable and secure communications regardless of jurisdiction or department.
Speakers included Rudy Giuliani, former New York City Mayor; James Lee Witt, former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director; Thomas Von Essen, former New York City Fire Commissioner; Howard Safir, former New York City Police Commissioner; and Tim Donahue, Nextel President and CEO.
For several weeks and months following the September 11, 2001 attack in lower Manhattan, Nextel, in cooperation with Motorola, supported numerous public safety organizations in that area with wireless communications services.
Organizations included: New York Police Department, New York Fire Department, Office of Emergency Management, New York City Mayor, American Red Cross, National Guard, FBI, Secret Service, AT&T, Con Ed, EMS, FEMA and countless others.
Specifically, the following occurred:
-- With local phones jamming, and telephone and power main
stations down, Nextel's Direct Connect service and two-way
messaging remained working throughout the entire crisis,
recovery and cleanup;
-- Nearly 7,000 phones were activated and deployed to
agencies in the New York area mentioned above, in addition
to construction companies working on the site;
-- Several COWs (Cell-sites on Wheels) were installed,
including one at Ground Zero for better capacity and
coverage; and
-- Nextel set up two Command Posts one at Ground Zero and the
other at the OEM staging area, staffed 24 hours a day, for
battery replenishment, and phone replacement.
The conference's keynote speaker was former New York City Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, now CEO of Giuliani Partners, LLC. "The instant communications technology provided by Nextel is a critical tool in effectively responding to any emergency," said Giuliani.
Giuliani also pointed out the increased frequency of situations that demand interoperability. "More than ever, major crisis-response efforts are multi-jurisdictional and multi-functional. From the Space Shuttle Columbia recovery effort to the D.C.-area sniper investigation, we are seeing a new level of collaboration and a greater need for a coordinated response."
During the public safety roundtable discussion, former New York City Fire Commissioner and now senior vice president of Giuliani Partners, LLC, Thomas Von Essen said, "On September 11th, we learned the true importance of interoperable communications. It was a chaotic scene at Ground Zero, but if it weren't for Nextel providing us with interoperable communications tools, it might have been worse."
James Lee Witt, president of James Lee Witt Associates and former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), stressed that interoperable communications is essential for today's emergency management professionals. "From the communications failure during the Oklahoma City bombing to being able to communicate during recent snowstorms, our nation's first responders need to be able to communicate for day-to-day operations and in emergency situations. These tools are fundamental to keeping the American people safe."
Nextel Communications is hosting a series of interoperability conferences around the country that are designed to educate consumers, government and public safety officials about the capabilities of and demand for interoperability.
While addressing guests during the conference, Nextel CEO Tim Donahue said, "It is a true honor to have those who have been on the front lines with us here to reinforce and highlight our commitment to reliable, secure, and interoperable communications tools. I believe that the public sector - you - deserve the best communications technology that is available today, and that technology is in many respects the same technology that has revolutionized communications in the workplace over the last several years."
About Nextel Communications
Nextel Communications, a Fortune 300 company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully-integrated wireless voice and data communications services including Direct Connect(R)- the long-range digital walkie-talkie feature; all-digital cellular service; Nextel Online(R) wireless data solutions; and two-way messaging.
Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc. have built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network covering 197 of the top 200 U.S. markets. Nextel and Nextel Partners' wireless voice and packet data communications services are available in areas of the U.S. where approximately 240 million people live or work.
CONTACT: Nextel Communications, Reston
Media:
Diane Rainey, 914/407-7282
or
Leigh Horner, 919/465-3712
or
Investors:
Paul Blalock, 703/433-4300 |
