Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release
January 21, 2010
Media Contact: Jenn Meale
Phone: (850) 245-0150
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AT&T Joins Florida Attorney General, Miami-Dade County to Help Local Haitian Community Communicate with Earthquake Victims

~ Two communications centers established in Miami-Dade County to connect locals with loved ones in Haiti, access information on disaster recovery efforts ~


TALLAHASSEE, FL — With power and telephone infrastructure in Haiti inoperable or severely limited due to the earthquake, concerned people are turning to the Internet to connect with family and friends and get updates on disaster recovery efforts. AT&T, in response to an appeal by Attorney General Bill McCollum, has partnered with Miami-Dade County Office of Emergency Management to set up two communications centers in the South Florida Haitian Community to help local Haitian Americans and others affected by the disaster access information concerning their loved ones and keep current on ongoing disaster recovery efforts.

The announcement was made today by Attorney General McCollum, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and AT&T Florida President Marshall Criser.

"People are desperate to contact their loved ones, and these centers will make that communication possible," said Attorney General McCollum. "I appreciate the efforts being made by AT&T and Miami-Dade County to help our citizens in this time of critical need.”

"In collaboration with Miami-Dade County’s office of Emergency Management, AT&T’s response to General McCollum was to set up Outreach Centers in the Haitian Community," said Marshall Criser, III, President AT&T Florida. "Bringing communications capabilities to the neighborhoods of the people impacted enables them to better stay informed on the relief efforts."

"Miami-Dade County greatly appreciates AT&T’s contribution of communications services at neighborhood centers," said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez. "It is a tremendous service to our Haitian-American community to assist them in connecting with family and friends on the island."

The two communications centers have 20 AT&T phone lines and 10 DSL routers for free Internet connection. The centers are located at:

- Department of Human Services Haitian American Senior Center, 5080 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
- Minor League Clubhouse, 1601 S.E. 28th Ave., Homestead

In addition to AT&T providing support here in South Florida, the AT&T Foundation is providing a $50,000 donation to Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) to support their relief work on disasters in Haiti and around the globe. Télécoms Sans Frontières is the leading international humanitarian organization specializing in emergency telecommunications

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