“In Louisiana and Mississippi, Katrina initially knocked out 2.8 million phone lines, more than 1,600 cellphone towers and more than 420,000 cable-TV connections that also can serve as Internet links, according to the Federal Communications Commission,” reports today’s
Seattle Times.

“In some areas, the wireless networks hastily formed by geek volunteers served as a stopgap while traditional services were restored, often in a matter of days. But in the most devastated areas, they continue to be the link to the outside world.”