This event in Silicon Valley, where someone wishing to wreak havoc on the communications systems there can simply sever AT&T fiber lines and knockout service, proves my theory that our infrastructure is very prone to threats of vandalism and terrorism. I've thought that traffic signaling, electrical infrastructure, and communications lines are way too exposed to the public. Imagine how easy it would be to gridlock an entire city simply by knocking out strategic traffic signals, or shutting down power infrastructure.
Natural disasters do this all the time. I've wondered why Federal recovery grants don't include provisions that force electric and communications companies to underground a certain percentage of their transmission systems over time in order to receive recovery money. How many times have we as taxpayers funded repairs on the South's electric grid from Florida to Texas due to Hurricanes? Whereas the infrastructure that is underground in these areas is usually less affected.
Think about our own surroundings. How each winter, there is at least one big power outage here in Salt Lake, mainly affecting areas served by overhead lines.
Some problems don't require huge complex fixes like a GE proposed "smart grid" or billion dollar battles. But unfortunately the people who are supposed to govern continue to spend money on nothing making it seem to evaporate, and constantly "overhauling" laws - like the tax law - than fixing real problems. I sometimes wonder what would happen if we told congress we don't want any new laws and we'd rather that they go home and not "fix" anything for a while, and how much the country would be able to get done during that time of true certainty - that congress won't 'fix' or 'change' anything for a while.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30139776
Tijs Limburg
Chairman and CTO of DMX - Digital Media eXceleron, Inc.
Get eXcited!
www.dmxed.com
Blogs:
http://phystrings.blogspot.com/
http://getoutofthedark.blogspot.com/
The "Don't Tread on Me" Flag: The First Navy Jack is enjoying renewed popularity these days thanks to an order from the Secretary of the Navy that directs all U.S. Navy ships to fly the First Navy Jack for the duration of the War on Terrorism.
Natural disasters do this all the time. I've wondered why Federal recovery grants don't include provisions that force electric and communications companies to underground a certain percentage of their transmission systems over time in order to receive recovery money. How many times have we as taxpayers funded repairs on the South's electric grid from Florida to Texas due to Hurricanes? Whereas the infrastructure that is underground in these areas is usually less affected.
Think about our own surroundings. How each winter, there is at least one big power outage here in Salt Lake, mainly affecting areas served by overhead lines.
Some problems don't require huge complex fixes like a GE proposed "smart grid" or billion dollar battles. But unfortunately the people who are supposed to govern continue to spend money on nothing making it seem to evaporate, and constantly "overhauling" laws - like the tax law - than fixing real problems. I sometimes wonder what would happen if we told congress we don't want any new laws and we'd rather that they go home and not "fix" anything for a while, and how much the country would be able to get done during that time of true certainty - that congress won't 'fix' or 'change' anything for a while.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30139776
Tijs Limburg
Chairman and CTO of DMX - Digital Media eXceleron, Inc.
Get eXcited!
www.dmxed.com
Blogs:
http://phystrings.blogspot.com/
http://getoutofthedark.blogspot.com/
The "Don't Tread on Me" Flag: The First Navy Jack is enjoying renewed popularity these days thanks to an order from the Secretary of the Navy that directs all U.S. Navy ships to fly the First Navy Jack for the duration of the War on Terrorism.
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