Aztek Networks Helps Drive New FCC Support for Improved Public Safety for Rural Communities

New clarification allows Emergency Stand Alone technology to be deployed

without negatively affecting Universal Service Fund support

BOULDER, Colo., April 6 /PRNewswire/ — Aztek Networks (www.azteknetworks.com), the leader in telecommunications switch consolidation and network migration, today announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved its request to exclude Emergency Stand Alone (ESA) routers from existing accounting standards as a means of improving rural telephone calling capabilities in the event of a disaster or line cut – thereby improving public safety. (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-553A1.pdf)

“This clarification allows telecom operators to deploy ESA equipment to ensure rural communities have reliable connectivity as a matter of public safety without losing existing support from the Universal Service Fund (USF),” said Steven Bruny, president and CEO of Aztek Networks, the company that led the effort to make this change. “With this clarification, telecom operators now can deploy ESA routers (switches) at remote concentrator locations without changing the existing classification of the concentrator to a switch classification which, in turn, allows telecom operators serving rural communities to fortify their networks further and ensure that local calls to fire, police and 9-1-1 agencies can be completed even if the connection to the switch is cut or the switching equipment is disabled,” he explained.

In addition, the FCC changes are in line with the recent economic stimulus legislation passed by President Obama which is directing $7.2 billion in funds and grants to build broadband telecommunications for un-served or underserved rural areas.

“The passage of this clarification coincides with President Obama’s directive to increase broadband usage among rural communities in an effort to connect all Americans to an efficient network for enhanced communication and one area of emphasis of the stimulus package is public safety,” said Bruny.

Aztek has a portfolio of patented ESA switches for both TDM- and IP-based networks. Aztek’s ESA switches are designed to connect local calls when the feeder network connection between the remote terminal and the switch is cut or the switch is out of service. The ESA switches enable a remote terminal that would otherwise be “down” to begin switching calls within rural communities or to pre-designated emergency response numbers. For example, if a remote field cabinet that serves as a concentrator for a small town is disconnected from the main switching equipment, often located many miles apart, the ESA switch will detect the problem and “kick-in” to connect calls among the local subscriber lines, including local police and fire departments. As it stands now, if the feeder cable between the concentrator and the switch is cut, all telephone service is completely disrupted.

“Aztek’s ESA capabilities support the FCC’s goals of ensuring that the public is able to reach emergency response personnel in times of crisis and I am very pleased to see that the agency has clarified its rules in a manner that will facilitate the deployment of this important technology,” said Dale Hatfield, former Chief of the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology.

For additional information on the FCC Clarification Order please visit: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-553A1.pdf

About Aztek Networks

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Aztek Networks is the leader in telecommunications switch consolidation solutions for network migration. The company’s patent-pending True Emergency Stand Alone (ESA)(TM) technology is the basis for the first and only truly open-standards, environmentally hardened and fully redundant ESA switch. Aztek’s TDM and IP-based ESA switches, when combined with fiber-to-the-home or broadband multi-service access systems, offer telecommunications carriers reliable and cost-effective solutions for green-field access applications and the replacement of legacy remote switches. More information is available at www.azteknetworks.com.

    Media Contact:
    Christie Denniston
    Catapult PR-IR
    cdenniston@catapultpr-ir.com
    Office: 303-581-7760
    Mobile: 303-827-5164

SOURCE Aztek Networks