TABLE OF C ONTENTS
Appendices APPENDICES
Fact Sheets 19
Communications Options
During an emergency situation, communications are often Nextel is unique among service providers because it has an
difficult and sometimes non-existent. While there is no fail entirely separate special cellular network that has its own
safe method that can guarantee communications 100 percent frequencies and equipment in addition to the normal cell
of the time, there are several options that may be more reliable network shared with other providers. This network is based
for your community depending on a number of factors on Motorola’s Integrated Digital Enhanced Network and
including available telecommunications services in your area. makes Direct Connect possible. It uses the 800 MHz portion
It’s also important to consider using more than one method of the radio spectrum assigned to specialized mobile radio
of communications. service. Nextel has purchased a large segment of these
frequencies in a significant number of national and
Options to consider include: international cellular service markets.
Satellite phones – These are among the most reliable and Other phone companies like Alltel are catching up with
most expensive option. The best satellite phones are those Nextel and offer similar direct connect service with its users
that link to multiple satellites and multiple geographic on a national or local plan include Alltel’s Touch2Talk Walkie-
regions, not just one satellite in one geographic area. Be Talkie Service.
sure to check that any satellite phones you consider link
to multiple satellites in more than one geographic area. Instant messaging – While cell phones may be down, if you
have power you can send text messages from computers in
Cellular phones – Mobile phones can be inconsistent during real time to other online contacts who are users of popular
an emergency and may not work for a brief period of time services such as AOL® Instant Messenger™, MSN® Messenger,
when cell towers are affected by the emergency. Ensure the and Yahoo!® Messenger whether they’re on their computer or
cell phone provider you are considering is the most reliable their wireless phone. This is an inexpensive option staff
in your geographic area, has the largest number of cell phone should have access to and know how to do.
towers available and/or offers multiple radio frequencies such
as Nextel’s Direct Connect service. It provides local service Text messaging – You can also send and receive text messages
through its own radio frequencies which work when cell to and from text-capable phones and e-mail addresses provided
phone service may not. Nextel’s Direct Connect was used cellular service is working. Again this is an inexpensive option
successfully by several assisted living communities in South staff should be able to use.
Florida during previous hurricanes.
Pagers – Alpha-numeric pagers are another inexpensive
Nextel’s Direct Connect allows you to push a single button option for communications , but you need phone service or
and connect with another Nextel in many regions of the U.S. Internet service to send pages.
It’s similar to a walkie talkie but is not limited by distance and
the service is usually free when the other user is in the local 2-Way Radios/Walkie Talkies – Many of these devices have
coverage area. You can even specify a group of Nextel users a range of up to 25 miles and are good for local communica-
that you can connect to all at once, similar to a dispatcher’s tion especially between buses in the event cell phone coverage
radio like police or taxi companies use. This makes Nextel a is down.
very popular option for communications in the event cell
phones go down and others you need to reach have Nextel
service.