Washington State tests voice-over-Internet calls for first responders

Washington is susceptible to all sorts of natural disasters — from the magnitude-6.8 Nisqually Quake that rattled Seattle five years ago this week to the Mount St. Helens lahars that destroyed miles of roads and railway during the 1980 eruption.

Because of those dangers, the state’s Emergency Management Division is testing a new mobile communications system that uses voice-over-Internet connections by satellite — a technology that could allow firefighters, police and other emergency personnel to talk with one another even if cellular, telephone or radio networks are damaged or non-existent.

By JOHN COOK
P-I REPORTER

Full Story: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/261392_disaster02.html