Telecommunications
Telecommunications at the City has evolved as technology evolved. First, there were single workstations connected to printers and each was costly to operate and maintain. Then processors were attached to workstations in groups and printers were shared in small groups.
Current telecommunication systems are boundless. The Internet has removed the restrictions of location for the Internet surrounds the world. Locally, the City has 12.5 miles of fiber optic cables connections to City facilities with dual paths. The fiber offers Intranet (local) services to provide common resources like forms and databases.
The telephone systems for government began as a PBX (Private Business Exchange) system at each facility with an operator. Lines were brought to each facility and then distributed manually to the clients as needed. The City’s fiber has allowed a much lower cost for circuits that are located at one or two locations. Dual fiber paths allow calls to be distributed throughout the City of Abilene.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) allows the City of Abilene to move telephone equipment to any facility without rewiring for each IP phone has it own personal telephone number stored in its memory. Why is that important? The City of Abilene will be able to respond to emergencies by moving operations into the area of the crisis without changing phone numbers and equipment.
With cellular telephone systems coordination with the same division, calls can be transferred from wired locations to wireless locations. The cellular or wireless telephone system can deliver text, voice, and picture messages as required by the situation.