 |
|
State governments in the U.S. are responsible for a wide range of services—from consumer protection, parks, and law enforcement, to agriculture, transportation, and the environment. And those agencies are expected to stay operational even if disaster should strike. Which means that the communications networks connecting various state offices with their decision-makers represent a critical lifeline that must be highly available and secure under all conditions.
|
|
But terrestrial broadband networks alone—such as DSL or cable—are vulnerable to natural disasters, and unless designed with adequate backup can be down for several hours, days, or even weeks during an emergency. Furthermore, costs to reach remote offices can be prohibitive, often leaving them with only limited dial-up connectivity.
|
|
That’s why state governments are increasingly turning to the nationwide HughesNet® broadband satellite service, which can be used either as a primary or backup solution to complement landline networks. Offering a true alternate-path broadband solution, HughesNet can help states meet their missions—no matter where their offices are located, and even in the event of a disaster.
|
|
Serving Diverse State Needs
|
|
Some states award networking contracts with fixed quantities and timelines. In other states, officials know they will need broadband services to meet various requirements, but cannot project the quantity or timeframe. Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts make it easy for states to select from the full suite of HughesNet services, including fixed, mobile, and transportable services to meet their specific needs. See sidebars for just a few examples of how Hughes is helping states to better serve their constituents with the power of satellite broadband.
|
|
Emerging Applications
|
|
In 2008, the Federal Communications Commission awarded over $400 million in grants to encourage telemedicine services for rural communities throughout the U.S. The funding is enabling clinicians in rural areas to take test results or X-rays, for example, and transmit the data to a distant hospital where a specialist can send back results or a diagnosis. Because of often-limited DSL and cable services in rural areas, telemedicine is proving to be an excellent candidate for the ubiquitous coverage provided by broadband satellite services. Similarly, telework and distance learning are also ideal applications for satellite networks.
|
|
“Each state is different, and each has its own networking topologies and requirements,” said Tony Bardo, assistant vice president of Government Services at Hughes. “But though they may vary widely in geography, population, weather, and even culture, they share similar broadband needs—high availability networks, true alternate-path backup, and universal connectivity, including even the most remote sites.”
|
|
|
