Inquest shows firefighters perished after becoming trapped in cabling

An inquest into a deadly fire at Shirley Towers in Southampton, U.K. has indicated that the two firefighters who perished became trapped in cabling that had fallen from above while they were attempting to fight the blaze.

The fire occurred on April 6, 2010 and although no individuals will be prosecuted in relation to the deaths, an inquest has commenced. On that night firefighters Alan Bannon, 38 and James Shears, 35, died in the fire that ignited when a curtain was left in a lamp.

The U.K.'s Daily Echo has followed the inquest. On June 20, Daily Echo assistant news editor Jenny Makin reported that a separate firefighting unit had successfully evacuated the building, but "Mr. Bannon and Mr. Shears had become trapped under cabling that had fallen from above. It was eight minutes later when an automatic distress signal on Mr. Shears' firefighting kit was activated."

Seven minutes after the distress signal was activated, "Mr. Bannon's breathing apparatus ran out of oxygen and within a minute of that happening, his distress alarm sounded after he failed to move for 30 seconds, meaning it was likely he was unconscious," Makin reported.

You can see the Daily Echo's full reporting on the inquest here.

Palo Alto gives up on municipal fiber-to-the-home, investigating wireless broadband instead

It looks like the city of Palo Alto, CA is giving up on its 15-year pursuit of a fiber-to-the-customer broadband architecture, and is opting to investigate wireless broadband instead. So reports Gennady Sheyner of Palo Alto Weekly, who covered the decision made by the Palo Alto Utilities Advisory Commission.

Sheyner reports, "Despite some reservations, the Utilities Advisory Commission voted 4-3 Wednesday night, June 6, to stop analyzing the possibility of expanding the city's existing dark-fiber network to local residents ..." Sheyner added that the city council will have to go along with the commission's decision in order to officially spike "a project that the city has been coveting for more than a decade."

Palo Alto has an existing 41-mile fiber ring that serves 78 commercial customers and has brought in $2.1 million in revenues annually, Sheyner reports. But recent temperature-taking of city residents indicates they would be unwilling to bear the financial burden of last-mile fiber connectivity. "Analysis ... shows that even in a best-case scenario, an average household would have to pay $1,000 upfront for the connection and $75 per month to subscribe to the fiber service," Sheyner reported. Several commissioners frowned upon other options, such as a city-subsidized plan.

Instead, it looks like Palo Alto could go wireless for the last mile. The recommendation that the commission intends to act on directs the utilities department "to pursue a study that would determine what a Palo Alto wireless system would look like," Sheyner reported. "The study would cost between $25,000 and $50,000."

The article details Palo Alto's 15-year history of trying to bring fiber to residences, including its unsuccessful pitch to be selected as a "Google Fiber" city. You can read the article at Palo Alto Online here.

NLRB weighs in on Hawaiian Telcom-union spat

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) dismissed unfair labor-practice charges filed by IBEW Local Union 1357 against Hawaiian Telcom as part of a contract dispute that has left the telco and union without a contract for more than 200 days.

On its website, IBEW Local 1357 said the charges claimed Hawaiian Telcom was "not bargaining in good faith," adding, "While we are disappointed with the decision, our goal of making sure we position the members to succeed is not done." The union stated that it is meeting with its attorney as well as its international office to explore possibilities including a strike, slowdown/sickout, appeal of the NLRB decision, acceptance of the impasse as-is, and continuing to negotiate with the telco.

The site also acknowledges "division among the rank and file, caused by the employer, about whether we should acquiesce and take what they give us or fight them to the death."

Hawaiian Telcom recalled the negotiation process as follows: "After good faith bargaining reached an impasse, the company proceeded with the implementation of the last, best and final offer that had been presented to the union but rejected by a vote last December."

While the union did not state a definite intention to appeal on its website, the company said it "is aware that union leadership intends to appeal the NLRB's dismissal." Hawaiian Telcom added that, "Dialogue between the company and IBEW 1357 representatives is ongoing."

IBEW Local 1357 referred to Hawaiian Telcom chief executive officer Eric Yeaman by title only in a strongly worded message. "The membership must realize," the union said, "that ever since the CEO took over in 2008, we have been fighting for our lives. And it is with the support of our membership and your willingness to stay strong ... that we have moved the company to the precipice." The notice to membership also asks them to "please be responsible and make sure you do not deviate from policy and procedures, and please continue to help out your friends and peers."

For its part, Hawaiian Telcom notes in Yeaman's bio that he "has successfully led the company's return to profitability, stabilization of its business (customers, employees and systems) and positioning for the future."

You can visit the IBEW Local 1357 website here. It includes documentation from the negotiation process. You can find information about Hawaiian Telcom here.