I’ve been lucky enough to be able to spend the last few days hanging out with Sascha Meinrath, of cuwireless fame. And so, I’ve been able to personally monitor and talk with him about the bizzare efforts of FEMA and other authorities to delay, obstruct, and prohibit the grass roots efforts to provide communications connectivity to Katrina victims — especially now in the Astrodome.
The story was picked up on Wired today. There’s also an damning blog blow-by-blow account by Jacob Applebaum on the ground.
Ad hoc wireless networks and IP communications represent a very real way to provide communications services to areas that have had their fixed comm structure knocked out. Jeff Pulver has spoken eloquently on this topic. Tom Evslin has some clear thinking about the value of VoIP nomadic capability in such a situation, sparked by Stuart Henshell here. It’s one of the best uses of this technology. I’m baffled why our government is doing everything that they can to prevent this from being deployed. It’s just simply the wrong reaction. It’s not like those that want to help are a bunch of wackos - there are a number of very senior, establishment people and corporations who are supporting these efforts.
If you haven’t already been reading this story, click through some of the links. If you are an American citizen, think about what communication services you would like, were you in such a catasrophe. If you patriate elsewhere, think about how your country would react to a situation like this. And think about letting your elected officials know the results of your reflection.