Could AT&T's new fiber-optic phone network stymie first responders?

As aptly characterized by Gizmodo, "AT&T's plan to roll out next-gen fiber-optic cables nationwide as a replacement for its traditional copper-based telephone networks is great in most respects -- save for the fact that it won't support the government's special telephone service for national emergencies."

AT&T's new fiber network reportedly won't support a priority line, called Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS), which is used during disasters or terrorist attacks when phone lines are usually clogged. "Essentially, the new AT&T network would force government to use the same -- potentially inundated -- phone networks as everyone else to communicate, potentially delaying first responders," adds Gizmodo.

Related story:  FTTH Council urges FCC to advance all -fiber upgrades over legacy copper networks

As originally reported by Brian Fung at the Washington Post's "The Switch" blog, "The Department of Homeland Security says an AT&T plan to test new network technology would degrade a special telephone service reserved for national emergencies and presidential communications. If implemented, the plan would hamper the ability of first responders and public officials to respond to a crisis of the magnitude of Hurricane Sandy or even 9/11, according to DHS."

GETS has proven its value in the past; the system served 10,000 phone calls during 9/11 and, in conjunction its wireless counterpart WPS, 45,000 calls during Hurricane Katrina.

The tech blog Engadget sums up, "AT&T's at least willing to work with the DHS to configure its fiber-optic network to recognize priority calls. That could take some time, though, and there's no word on whether Ma Bell's putting its plans to test the new technology on hold until then."