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October 30, 2006 | Comments: (0)
FCC 811 mandate: Pandora's box?
Pursuant to the Pipeline Safety Act of 2002, the FCC has mandated that all telecommunications network carriers make available by March 2007 811 as a free dial in phone number for digging site information.
Some states and cities already have their own service, but this will be the first time it goes national. Vonage will be the first provider to offer 811 as a national service.
In case you've never heard of this before, here's how it works: If you are adding an addition to your home, installing a pool or just digging a ditch in your backyard, you dial 811 and that connects you to what is called a local one call center.
The center in turn connects to the local utility company in the area and lays out the location of pipes and or cables underground.
It is nice to know that my neighbor won't be cutting any power lines that turn off my air-conditioning in August or worse still hitting a gas pipeline.
But, what if my neighbor is a local terrorist? Then what? You never know what he might do with that info. In fact, he never says good morning to me, shouldn't that tell me something?
Now he is armed with information some governments actually try to keep secret.
It is a crazy world we live in an having to worry about these things just makes it crazier still.
Posted by Ephraim Schwartz on October 30, 2006 01:16 PM
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This isn't a new threat. All the 811 mandate does is require that 811 connect to existing "call before you dig" centers. The centers themselves are nothing new, and the numbers are widely published.
I somehow don't think that having to pick up a phone book to look up the number ever kept any "bad guy" from calling and getting the information.
Posted by: Chris K. at October 31, 2006 10:39 AMIt's not as if the information is secret now.
Most states already have a one-call center performing this service, albeit with different numbers from state to state. They save lives. You *really* don't want a backhoe digging near a gas pipeline.
Gas pipeline rights of way are a matter of public record. And the thought of trying to keep something secret among the few hundred thousand who know already is just not feasible.
WTF??? Terrorism? That has to be the most stupid thing I've read in a long time.
You are REQUIRED to call these numbers (MISS-DIG here in Michigan) before doing any digging. This has been the case since AT LEAST the 1970's.
The tragedies, including large natural gas explosions in downtown areas, that result from failing to do this simple task are numerous anyway.
If this information is restricted in any way, people's safety will be in danger in a way that would delight any terrorist.
Posted by: Matt at November 2, 2006 08:00 AMThis media pushed obsession with terrorism is the McCarthyism of the new century. The masses are so scared about the most statistically remote danger that they are willing to give up everyone's freedoms, liberties, and convenience.
Think about this: At the same time that you are giving up your freedoms for the illusion of safety from terrorists, you are still unwilling to put away your cell phone while you are driving. (Which is shown to impair the driver to a similar degree as driving under the influence!)
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