TERRORIST ATTACK KILLS SEVERAL IN COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY

Verizon Vice Chmn. Larry Babbio’s voice quaked as he haltingly explained to reporters that technicians for Verizon and Genuity had fled to the roof of one of the towers, called their supervisors and never were heard from again. Verizon worker told supervisor he ran to roof after plane crashed into building because he was on high floor, above where plane cut into building, and couldn’t get down stairs. Three Genuity workers called company’s network operating center with similar story, all presumably thinking roof was safe because they could be evacuated by helicopter. “They are unaccounted for,” Genuity spokesman said. Babbio told reporters that almost 500 other Verizon employees working in tower were evacuated safely. Remaining technician “called from the roof, he couldn’t get out,” he said with voice breaking. “We're hoping for the best.”

Most if not all N.Y. TV stations lost technical personnel in attack, although no deaths have been confirmed. WNBC-TV told us its engineer (his name wasn’t released) phoned from 104th floor after first plane hit, saying he was heading for stairs. “We haven’t heard from him since,” station official said. Two WCBS-TV engineers called from 110th floor saying they were trapped. WABC- TV and WPIX also confirmed that one of their engineers was missing and several other stations (including radio) had technical personnel on duty when first plane hit, we were told. Altogether, 10 TV stations and 4 radio stations have antennas above 110th floor of World Trade Center.

Steven Jacoby, 43, chief operating officer of Alexandria, Va.-based messaging company Metrocall, was among passengers who perished on American Airlines Flight 77 when it was flown into Pentagon. Company said Jacoby had been en route to L.A. to take part in PCIA annual conference, which was cancelled. He had been COO of Metrocall since 1994 when company merged with FirstPage USA where he was COO and vp for 6 years. “The fact that Metrocall’s technical operating network continued to function and provide critical communications during this horrific event was a tribute to Jake,” Metrocall Chief Financial Officer Vince Kelly said. “There are no words to describe the loss this caused and right now our hearts are broken.”

Also on that flight was Karen Kincaid, attorney with Wiley, Rein & Fielding in Washington and outside counsel for Industrial Telecom Assn. (ITA). Kincaid worked in FCC’s old Private Radio Bureau until moving to law firm in 1993. Kincaid’s husband Peter Batacan also is communications lawyer. Edmund Glazer, 41, CFO of MRV Communications, an optical components and network infrastructure company, was passenger on American Airlines flight 11 that was flown into north tower of World Trade Center by terrorists. “This is a very sad day for MRV and all who knew Edmund,” said MRV CEO Noam Lotan. Glazer is survived by wife and 4-year-old son. Also on Flight 11 was David Angell, exec. producer of NBC’s Frasier, and his wife, Lynn. They were returning home to Cal. from wedding in Mass.

NextWave CEO Allen Salmasi said company employees felt “profound sadness” on death of Barbara Olson, consultant to wireless carrier and wife of Solicitor Gen. Theodore Olson. Barbara Olson, who was frequent TV commentator, was among passengers who perished on Flight 77 that crashed into Pentagon. Before becoming solicitor gen., her husband had argued NextWave case before U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., in which court reversed FCC’s cancellation of NextWave licenses. “Barbara was a person of intelligence, good humor and generous spirit who made you feel like an old friend from your very first meeting,” Salmasi said. “We will miss her enormously.”

James Hayden, 47, corporate technology officer for Web security firm Netegrity, was on United Airlines flight 175 that crashed into south tower of World Trade Center. Hayden, who lived in Westford, Mass., joined Netegrity as chief financial officer in 1998. Netegrity CEO Barry Bycoff expressed company’s “deepest sadness at the tragic loss of an incredible human being and friend.” He said company planned to establish memorial fund in Hayden’s name.

Total number of victims in World Trade Center wasn’t known yet but several communications companies had installations there including AT&T, Global Crossing, Verizon. Financial firms such as Lehman Bros., Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch that have played important roles in the telecom business also were located in its towers. AT&T spokesman said all of its employees got out of area safely. Verizon had 1,737 people assigned to nearby 140 West St., one of company’s switching centers, but that office was evacuated before Trade Center buildings collapsed (see separate story).