Harris Corporation has selected Level 3 Communications (NYSE:LVLT, news, filings) to provide telecommunication services in support of the 2010 US Census. Level 3 will be providing voice services to 494 Local Census Offices supporting half a million workers, and of course high speed internet services as well to keep all that demographic data flowing smoothly. They have already been supporting 151 Early Local Census offices for the Census Address Canvassing Operation since March.
Level 3 has been finding more and more government related contracts, finally getting the federal markets traction they have been working so hard to gain over the last 4-5 years. It’s interesting that they would win this one, considering the large component of voice services. They do offer them of course, but it’s never been what they’ve been known for. It’s good to see them fighting for new turf.
The census takes place every 10 years, as mandated by the US Constitution. So with the pace of technological advancement, every single census takes place in a very different world of communications. By this time, it is becoming just a bit surreal. Companies like Google tracks trillions of searches and other online events automatically with nearly real time stats. But it takes a half a million people with clipboards (whether paper or wireless) going door to door to count the people themselves. Doesn’t it seem like doing the census ought to someday be some sort of real time web app, sort of like the national debt clock?
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Categories: Government Regulations · Internet Backbones
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I’m sure some people would object to having the government be that efficient at tracking everyone. There have been arguments that it should be done statistically but since it’s used to help determine the make up of political districts and the House of Representatives, it seems like it’s worth it to do it the old fashioned way. Assisted by handheld technology and telecommunications of course.