Then later that year, we filed a NSF Grant called “A Secure and Survivable Exchange Point”. The NSF Grant took the design issue one great step forward and proposed that the Exchange would also have the ability to observe and change it’s IP packet configuration at Layer 3 and above during a catastrophe.

The reason being is that we now know that during a catastrophe, local IP traffic could reach an unprecedented level and impact local communication and public safety networks. The Grant proposed using deep packet inspection technology to make it possible for the Exchange to alter its configuration at Layer 3 and above, thus allowing government, healthcare, first responders and public safety traffic flows to have the greatest priority.

All of this together, goes back to the point made in the article regarding The Fourth Utility. I believe the way we will get to The Fourth Utility is to combine the best efforts and practices of the public and private sectors. A good example of this is an international airport, or a port authority where all parties come together in their mutual interest and create something of greater value for themselves and the surrounding community.