# Presentation: 581703

## Communications Interoperability 101

***Current and Emerging Solutions to Public Safety Communications Interoperability Summit***
*Creating New Opportunities with Technology*
***June 11, 2002***

**Notes:**
Introduce yourself to the audience and provide them some background on your experience with public safety communications systems.

Describe your role within the PSWN Program.

I would like to talk to you today about an important problem – wireless communications interoperability.

## Many are asking — if September 11th happened again, would we be ready?

- Leaders are facing increased calls for real-time information exchange and information sharing
- Expanding mission requirements due to homeland security necessitate greater capability, coverage, security, and interoperability for wireless systems
- Presidential and Homeland Security interest has raised the priority of these issues and is serving as a catalyst for action

***AMERICA’S NEW REALITY HAS RAISED AWARENESS OF A CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGE—WIRELESS INTEROPERABILITY ***

***A New Environment...***

## WHAT IS INTEROPERABILITY? 

- Interoperability is the ability of public safety personnel to communicate by radio with staff from other agencies, on demand and in real time
- Public safety agencies require three distinct types of interoperability
- Day-to-day
- Mutual-aid
- Task force

***WHAT IS INTEROPERABILITY? ***

***Interoperability Defined...***

**Notes:**
What is the PSWN Program? 

The PSWN Program is not a federal program...it is a federally funded program that is focused on local, state, regional, federal, and tribal public safety interoperability issues.

In 1996, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury agreed to jointly sponsor the PSWN Program and work together with public safety agencies to improve interoperability.

The program's vision is one that it shares with the public safety community, which is—seamless, coordinated, and integrated public safety communications for the safe, effective, and efficient protection of life and property.

## WHY IS INTEROPERABILITY IMPORTANT?

***Interoperability Defined...***

- Constituents look to government officials to protect life and property
- Current deficiencies in wireless interoperability put the general public, as well as public safety officials, at significant risk
- Without coordinated efforts to address interoperability, jurisdictions around the country are developing communications systems at extra expense to tax payers
- The events of September 11 have highlighted the necessity for effective public safety operations

**“****If ever there was a time that the country   **
**  ****was listening, that time is now” **
**Congressman Curt Weldon, U.S. Representative, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania**

**Notes:**
This morning, I am going to provide you with— 
A quick overview of the PSWN Program
Describe some of the activities the program is pursuing
Summarize its pilot activities, and 
Explain where its heading in the future. 

## A PSWN PROGRAM ANALYSIS OF COMMUNICATIONS AT THE PENTAGON FOLLOWING THE TERRORIST ATTACKS SHOWS THE IMPACT OF INTEROPERABILITY ON  PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST RESPONDERS

- No means of direct interoperability was immediately available between local, state, and federal responders
- Commercial service networks, with some exceptions, were not capable of handling the immense volume of calls generated at or near the incident site
- Private land mobile radio systems were the most reliable form of communications
- Public safety agencies at all levels of government lacked priority access to commercial systems
- Large regional and statewide systems can help handle an increase in radio traffic

***A Case Study In Interoperability...***

**Notes:**
This morning, I am going to provide you with— 
A quick overview of the PSWN Program
Describe some of the activities the program is pursuing
Summarize its pilot activities, and 
Explain where its heading in the future. 

## Key Challenges to Interoperability

## AN OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC SAFETY WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

- The public safety community comprises
- 52,000 local agencies
- 160 state agencies
- 30 federal agencies (totaling 3 million officers)
- The market for public safety radio technology is small leading to few vendors with proprietary technology and high radio systems costs
- Wireless communications systems are used in situations that require high reliability, availability, and a grade of service with negligible delay
- Security is becoming increasingly important
- Increased needs for joint response and multijurisdictional assistance requires increased interoperability

***Public Safety Wireless Environment...***

**Notes:**
This morning, I am going to provide you with— 
A quick overview of the PSWN Program
Describe some of the activities the program is pursuing
Summarize its pilot activities, and 
Explain where its heading in the future. 

## EVOLVING WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURES CAN SIMULTANEOUSLY HELP AND HINDER INTEROPERABILITY

***EVOLVING WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURES CAN SIMULTANEOUSLY HELP AND HINDER INTEROPERABILITY***

**Conventional/ **
**Trunked Analog**

**Voice and Data**

**Standardization **
**Efforts**

**Shared**
**Systems**

**Conventional **
**Analog**

**Voice**

**Proprietary **
**Architectures**

**Isolated**
**Communities**

**PAST**

**PRESENT**

**Conventional/**
**Trunked Digital **

**Voice, Data, **
**Image, and Video**

**Accepted**
**Standards**

**Interoperability**

**FUTURE**

***History...***

## Not Interoperable

**Level of interoperability**

**New Presidential directives  ****2002**
**working to address **
**interoperability challenges**
**FCC allocates 50 MHz****	****2002**
**of spectrum in the 4.9 GHz**
**band for public safety**
**operations**
**State of Michigan ****	****2001**
**completes Phase III of **
**statewide, digital system **
**P25 Vocoder and ****	****1998**
**CAI approved **
**PSWN Program created****	****1996 ****	**
**Project 25 initiated ****	****1989**
**Project 16 initiated ****	****1977**

**Level of interoperability**

**1928****	****First one-way AM police broadcast radio system**
**1974****	****800 MHz spectrum fragments public safety bands**
**1970s****	****Proprietary trunking protocols become increasingly common**
**1980s****	****Digital radio systems become increasingly common**
**1997****	****Balanced Budget Act of 1997 begins ****	****transition to 700 MHz**

**MUCH WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE**

**Not Interoperable**

**Interoperable**

***History...***

## SEVERAL KEY ISSUE AREAS MUST BE ADDRESSED BEFORE INTEROPERABILITY CAN BECOME A REALITY 

***SEVERAL KEY ISSUE AREAS MUST BE ADDRESSED BEFORE INTEROPERABILITY CAN BECOME A REALITY ***

***Key Challenges...***

- Interoperability

- Spectrum

- Funding

- Standards and
- Technology

- Coordination
- and
- Partnerships

**Notes:**
What is the PSWN Program? 

The PSWN Program is not a federal program...it is a federally funded program that is focused on local, state, regional, federal, and tribal public safety interoperability issues.

In 1996, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury agreed to jointly sponsor the PSWN Program and work together with public safety agencies to improve interoperability.

The program's vision is one that it shares with the public safety community, which is—seamless, coordinated, and integrated public safety communications for the safe, effective, and efficient protection of life and property.

## INTEROPERABILITY DEPENDS ON THE WILLINGNESS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES TO COOPERATE WITH ONE ANOTHER 

***INTEROPERABILITY DEPENDS ON THE WILLINGNESS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES TO COOPERATE WITH ONE ANOTHER ***

- Jurisdictional boundaries and unique missions often create perceived barriers that hinder cooperation and collaboration
- The importance of interoperability is sometimes not sufficiently understood by decision makers or the organizations that influence those decision makers
- Information sharing and best practices regarding interoperability are not widely available at all levels of government
- Commercial services may provide unique partnering opportunities but require new business models and policies to become a viable alternative for mission-critical wireless systems

***Coordination and Partnerships...***

**Notes:**
What is the PSWN Program? 

The PSWN Program is not a federal program...it is a federally funded program that is focused on local, state, regional, federal, and tribal public safety interoperability issues.

In 1996, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury agreed to jointly sponsor the PSWN Program and work together with public safety agencies to improve interoperability.

The program's vision is one that it shares with the public safety community, which is—seamless, coordinated, and integrated public safety communications for the safe, effective, and efficient protection of life and property.

## FUNDING IS THE PRIMARY OBSTACLE FOR AGENCIES TRYING TO IMPLEMENT AND MAINTAIN INTEROPERABLE WIRELESS SYSTEMS 

***FUNDING IS THE PRIMARY OBSTACLE FOR AGENCIES TRYING TO IMPLEMENT AND MAINTAIN INTEROPERABLE WIRELESS SYSTEMS ***

***Funding...***

- Source:  Combined Analysis of NIJ Law Enforcement and PSWN Program Fire and EMS Communications Interoperability Studies

- % of Public Safety Agencies

**KEY ISSUES**

- $18.3 billion infrastructure replacement cost estimate
- Few jurisdictions have dedicated revenue sources for public safety radio communications
- Funding for wireless systems is in direct competition with other worthwhile projects
- Limited knowledge of existing funding mechanisms within the public safety community
- The President recognizes need to increase federal funding to improve communications

**Notes:**
What is the PSWN Program? 

The PSWN Program is not a federal program...it is a federally funded program that is focused on local, state, regional, federal, and tribal public safety interoperability issues.

In 1996, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury agreed to jointly sponsor the PSWN Program and work together with public safety agencies to improve interoperability.

The program's vision is one that it shares with the public safety community, which is—seamless, coordinated, and integrated public safety communications for the safe, effective, and efficient protection of life and property.

## RADIO SPECTRUM REFERS TO THE ARRAY OF CHANNELS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNICATIONS 

***RADIO SPECTRUM REFERS TO THE ARRAY OF CHANNELS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNICATIONS ***

***What is Radio Spectrum?...***

## LIMITED RADIO SPECTRUM RESULTS IN CONGESTION AND INTERFERENCE, LIMITING PUBLIC SAFETY’S ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE — BUT, THE SITUATION IS IMPROVING

***LIMITED RADIO SPECTRUM RESULTS IN CONGESTION AND INTERFERENCE, LIMITING PUBLIC SAFETY’S ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE — BUT, THE SITUATION IS IMPROVING***

***Spectrum...***

**KEY ISSUES**

- Public safety operates in eight disparate bands
- Digital TV transition out of
- 	700 MHz band
- Competition with commercial entities for spectrum is intense
- Different rules govern spectrum at different levels of government
- Spectrum efficiency

**47.55**

**24**

**23.5**

- 0

- 50

- 100

- 150

**Current Status**

**Goal**

**Amount of Spectrum (MHz)**

**145.05**

**121.55**

-  1997
- Allocation

- Remaining PSWAC
- Recommendation

- Latest
- Allocation

-  Current
- Allocation

**50**

-  Previous
- Allocation

**121.55**

**Notes:**
What is the PSWN Program? 

The PSWN Program is not a federal program...it is a federally funded program that is focused on local, state, regional, federal, and tribal public safety interoperability issues.

In 1996, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury agreed to jointly sponsor the PSWN Program and work together with public safety agencies to improve interoperability.

The program's vision is one that it shares with the public safety community, which is—seamless, coordinated, and integrated public safety communications for the safe, effective, and efficient protection of life and property.

## STANDARDS-BASED WIRELESS EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED TO ENSURE COST COMPETITIVE INTEROPERABILITY PRODUCTS 

***STANDARDS-BASED WIRELESS EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED TO ENSURE COST COMPETITIVE INTEROPERABILITY PRODUCTS ***

***Standards and Technology...***

**STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT**

**1977:  Project 16** analog trunked radio system standards which do not address interoperability
**1989:  Project 25** initiated to develop standards for interfacing disparate trunking systems as manufacturers move toward digital technologies
**1989:  Project 34** initiated to address wideband, high-speed data standards
**2001:****	****Project MESA**, wideband, high-speed data standards

**KEY ISSUES**

- Without standards, vendors introduce proprietary products that do not interoperate
- Standards development is usually slow
- Public safety agencies have limited resources to actively participate in standards development processes
- Government can play a role in standards development

**Notes:**
What is the PSWN Program? 

The PSWN Program is not a federal program...it is a federally funded program that is focused on local, state, regional, federal, and tribal public safety interoperability issues.

In 1996, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury agreed to jointly sponsor the PSWN Program and work together with public safety agencies to improve interoperability.

The program's vision is one that it shares with the public safety community, which is—seamless, coordinated, and integrated public safety communications for the safe, effective, and efficient protection of life and property.

## Tough Questions? 

## ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND PUBLIC SAFETY EXECUTIVES NEED TO ANSWER TOUGH QUESTIONS TO CONTINUE FOSTERING INTEROPERABILITY

- With such a large community of interest, what is the most effective way of getting wireless technology improvements to first responders?
- Should incentive programs be designed to promote interoperability solutions?
- Where should the funding come from to replace critical aging public safety wireless communications systems?
- Should state and local laws be amended to enable far less capital-intensive paradigms such as annual fee-for-service models?

***Tough Questions...***

**Notes:**
This morning, I am going to provide you with— 
A quick overview of the PSWN Program
Describe some of the activities the program is pursuing
Summarize its pilot activities, and 
Explain where its heading in the future. 

## MORE TOUGH QUESTIONS 

- Should a state and local nationwide purchasing alliance be established to unite buying power and obtain cost competition?
- Should a single government entity manage public safety spectrum for all levels of government (i.e., local, state, and federal) to standardize rules regarding spectrum use?
- How can government exercise more influence in standards-setting for public safety wireless communications?
- Should a joint industry and public safety executive-level forum be established to ensure progress on wireless standards?

***Tough Questions...***

**Notes:**
This morning, I am going to provide you with— 
A quick overview of the PSWN Program
Describe some of the activities the program is pursuing
Summarize its pilot activities, and 
Explain where its heading in the future.