The following story originally appeared on The Post's Web site. Credit for the story goes to their staff writer Sara Bisker.
ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University officials are helping untangle communication line problems caused by yesterday's attacks.
A university-controlled satellite will help decrease congestion in telephone networks in Manhattan, N.Y., and Washington, D.C., said Hans Kruse, associate professor in the J. Warren McClure School of Communication Systems Management. Outgoing calls from the attack locations will avoid direct contact with telephone lines by being routed through satellites.
Since May, Ohio University has had primary control of a NASA satellite for educational and research purposes, Kruse said.
During the past few weeks, Ohio University officials notified federal emergency officials about the university's satellite capability, said Dennis Irwin, chairman of the Ohio University School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Officials volunteered the university's services if needed in an emergency situation.
"(The Federal Emergency Management Agency) is always looking for ways to prepare for disasters," Irwin said. "And they viewed a significant communication satellite as being a possible part of that infrastructure."
Because telephone lines have been clogged since yesterday's attacks, phone conversations will be transmitted through Ohio University's satellite and then re-connected to telephone lines away from the congested area, said Ohio University junior and project worker Matthew Raider.
"In order to make emergency operations work properly, (officials) have to employ additional sources," he said.
Yesterday, the New York State Emergency Management Agency requested use of the NASA satellite to provide alternative communication routes, Kruse said.
Officials expect FEMA to contact the university today, he said.
Lockheed Martin Corp., a Newtown, Pa.-based advanced technology systems company, is working with Ohio University to provide satellite configurations, Irwin said.
Ohio University has never been involved directly with a national disaster like this, Irwin said.
"We turned out to be valuable in responding to this particular disaster," Kruse said. "And (we) are more than happy to oblige and help."
