Since the global Coronavirus tragedy requires social distancing, connectivity has never been more important. There are many individuals leading the way in providing wireless connectivity for healthcare, enabling people to effectively work from home and connecting students to pursue their education. Please take a moment to nominate an individual or company who is making a difference with wireless connectivity in your area.
Even in more “normal” times as recently as a few months ago, these heroes have been going about their business of helping others. We recognize their efforts to connect schools to improve opportunities for young people, connect businesses and industries in remote locations, and provide connectivity for first responders and aid agencies in the wake of natural disasters.
4Q 2019 Heroes:
- C Ravi Kumar, InfoNet – India
InfoNet started as a small service provider connecting a handful of locations with reliable, cost-effective connectivity. Based on their reputation, they have grown to provide connectivity to businesses, schools and residential locations, totaling more than 8,000 customers. They are now established as a regional communications service provider and aspire to provide national coverage.
- Martin Boucher, CasCom – Canada
Wireless connectivity supports hotels and mining sites across rural Canada, which previously had poor internet connectivity and restricted networks. Martin is the legend behind the Wi-Fi connectivity for hardworking people in the Canadian Mountains, ice roads and the Arctic. He configures and supports many wireless projects simultaneously and is a truly remarkable individual worthy of recognition for his efforts to expand wireless networks across the country.
2019 Hero of the Year (one winner is selected from the 2019 quarterly winners):
- Chris Hillis, Information Technology Disaster Resource Center (ITDRC) – U.S.A.
ITDRC provides communications for evacuation centers and bases of operations for disaster recovery organizations such as FEMA, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the Red Cross, Team Rubicon and AmeriCorps. ITDRC provided critical communications support to 142 disaster-stricken areas in 76 communities with 160 technical volunteers after major hurricanes and fire disasters affected large parts of California and the southern U.S. In addition, 14 months after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, ITDRC continued to support 30 active network sites throughout the island.
I encourage you to read Chris’ 7 Questions Solution paper on ITDRC.