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The Network-Critical Infrastructure pilot program (HS-NCI) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will permit federal, state, and local law enforcement and other officials to share unclassified information with key owners and operators of critical infrastructure systems. The network is capable of sending 10,000 outbound voice calls each minute, and can send 5,000 concurrent e-mail messages and 3,000 concurrent fax transmissions. Thirty thousand concurrent inbound calls can be received through an information hotline, and the public can submit information regarding suspect activities to the FBI, as well as state and local law enforcement. The system can also search contact names and numbers, as well as such assets as service and equipment that can be used in an emergency situation. Participating in the pilot is Art Fierro, a special agent with the FBI, who says HSIN-CI is not a technology, but instead a program that involves all community stakeholders in homeland security. Representatives of critical infrastructure groups have also recruited experts form other industries, and systems have been launched the in states of Washington and Indiana. DHS provided Indiana with servers, software, and high-speed connectivity, and Web sites are repositories of contact information. Powerful search abilities allow DHS or FBI officials to find and send information to specific sectors.
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