by C. Henry Adams
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Telecommunication Crisis on Linkwood Road
Update: Saturday Oct. 6th 2012 Telecom Crisis on Linkwood Rd
Day 4 : Telecom Crisis on Linkwood Road
Day 5: Telecom Crisis on Linkwood Road
Day 6: Telecom Crisis on Linkwood Road
Day 7: Telecom Crisis on Linkwood Road
Night 8 of Day 8: Telecom Crisis on Linkwood Road
Since I did not have a date with a Lady tonight, I decided to set at home and watch the TV Show “Fringe” on the Fox Network.
But, before I could find my seat in front of the television, the phone ranged.
On the other side of this wireless connection was a Neighbor and Community Leader.
He said, “C., AT and T is out here on Linkwood Road again tonight with a number of trucks and technicians.”
I immediately replied back without putting another thought to the matter saying, “Alright, I'll grab my digital camera and be there shortly.”
In my mind I'm thinking, “...and the saga continues.” But, I wasn't aware of what to expect when I arrived on the scene. Therefore, I said a little prayer of protection before venturing out into the night.
It was Night 8 of Day 8 and I had not the opportunity to check my email today due to business obligations that took a seat behind this outage.
Nevertheless, I've heard from the Atlanta Journal & Constitution Newspaper this morning and proceeded with other business while from time to time confirming with Elderly Neighbors or their kids (Grown Children I grew-up with..) that their phone service had been restored.
Anyway, back on the tangent; when I arrived on Linkwood Road, it was confirmed that AT and T Technicians were on the site alone with Armed Guards ( Licensed Peace Officers).
As I walked up to one of at least three repair locations with multiple Technicians on duty, I was asked by a Law Enforcement Officer to identify myself.
So, without any mental reservation or hesitation whatsoever, I respectfully gave my name and mention that I came from a nearby neighborhood.
After the meet and greet, the conversation lead to the discovery of an AT and T Executive Officer (Person unknown at this time.) recent visit to the site.
Furthermore, it was mentioned that the Executive Officer asked the Technicians if did they needed anything to get the job done.
It was discovered that in past days when AT and T Technicians left at 3:00 pm EST - it was because they weren't authorized to work overtime.
Well, the unknown AT and T Executive Officer obviously gave the clearance to work into the night.
Recently, someone asked, "What are you doing to help resolve this issue in the community?"
Here's my answer:
A) Working with Community Leaders and Neighbors to help get needed assistance in the restoration of telephone services.
B) Contacting Media Sources to get the word out.
C) Suggesting alternative plans for communications like giving Elderly Parents older cellular phones (No Older than 2003) to dial 911 in case of an emergency until phone service is restored.
D) Keeping Colleagues, Friends and Neighbors updated on turn of events through text messages, emails, phone calls, social media and digital photos just to name a few. (Unified Communications)
E) Being more vigilant in the community alone with other neighbors.
F) Staying in contact with the City Councilman and informing him or his staff of turn of events.
G) As a new member of the National Preparedness Coalition under FEMA or the Federal Emergency Management Agency which connects to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, as well as, first responders – I'm hoping to seek training for my community, colleagues, as well as, myself.
H) Preparing to recommend the development of a Business Continuity Plan and Disaster Recovery Plan that has emphasis on crime prevention in the community.
That being said, respectfully – we would like to make some suggestions to help AT and T resolve the issue of wire theft below:
1) Perhaps Neighbors, Citizens and Individuals need to be given a common sense written criteria of what to lookout for when suspecting wire theft.
2) If AT and T Technicians typically work during the hours of 7:00 am to 3:00 pm., perhaps any unusual activity observed outside normal business hours (I.e. 4:00 am in the morning) should be reported by customers.
3) Perhaps AT and T needs to setup a direct human to human 24 hour hotline just for these types of theft.
4) Perhaps AT and T needs to accept text messages alerting them of possible theft.
5) Perhaps AT and T needs to accept tweets alerting them to possible theft.
6) If AT and T is concern with prank or false calls, perhaps some sort of notice should be given to advise the caller of the seriousness of this matter. If false calls are considered a violation of laws, this disclosure should be made known.
7) If the area is a common place for wire theft, perhaps AT and T needs to study patterns, implement countermeasures and apply sting tactics with law enforcement.
8) Perhaps satellite surveillance if applicable should be considered for digital photograph analysis regarding movements of thieves.
9) Perhaps AT and T should ask their customers and anybody serious about stopping the wire thefts to take picture of suspected wire thieves with their smartphones, then upload the image immediately to a specific site for review. This information should be shared with the Law Enforcement in the area and surrounding areas.
10) Perhaps AT and T should take full advantage of Social Media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Blog sites, Radio Ads, TV Ads, as well as, Online Video sites to get the word out.
11) Perhaps to stop or deter this particular crime, a collective effort must ensue by AT and T , Small Businesses, Towns, Communities, Non-Profits Organizations, Governments (Federal, State, County and City), Groups and Individual Customers.
12) Perhaps a market campaign, a crime prevention campaign and private interest effort will help AT and T protect its infrastructure.
13) There is technology that can detect brakes in fiber, perhaps there is technology that could help AT and T quickly identify multiple telephone lines going offline at once that needs to be installed.
14) Perhaps AT and T should now increase the $3,000 USD bounty to at least $100,000 USD to draw interest. By doing so, give Private Industry and Non-profit Organizations an incentive in helping to capture criminals who commit this crime.
Recently, I contacted Major Quiller of Zone 1 for the Atlanta Police Department (“APD”).
During the conversation with Major Quiller, we discovered the following things that Atlanta Police Department (Zone 1) is actively doing to rectify the situation in the Linkwood Road Area:
a) Morning Watch ( Shifts starting from 7am thru 7pm) is on alert for Wire Theft.
b) Crime Suppression Unit activated.
c) Constant Surveillance of the Area (Linkwood Road Area).
d) Collaboration with AT&T Security Services, as well as, other Law Enforcement Organizations.
e) In contact with Recycle Centers.
d) Canvasing neighborhoods to investigate and gather leads to this crime.
Update: Saturday, October 13th 2012 -
An unknown number of Neighbors now have phone service, BUT in essence if you call Mrs. B's number, Mrs. C may receive the call.
Hopefully, AT and T will resolve that connectivity issue soon.
