Internet of Things Advisory Board 

Public Safety Subgroup

Draft Recommendations 

May 2023

Subgroup Members: 

Ann Mehra 

Nicole Coughlin 

Maria Rerecich
Promote Interoperability of Public Safety IoT Data

Advocate for the implementation and 

adoption of interoperable data standards 

for public safety IoT.

Facilitate adoption by funding grants for

jurisdictions/agencies for procurement of

interoperable IoT solutions.

Develop a program of education/training 

for jurisdictions/agencies to inform of best 

practices for interoperability.

Justification

● Interoperability of IoT device data would 

enhance incident responses and 

coordination among responder teams, 

providing safety benefits that would 

encourage the adoption of IoT.

● Proliferation of IoT devices without 

interoperable data will make it difficult to 

achieve interoperability the longer it 

diverges.

● Barriers to prioritizing data

interoperability when procuring public 

safety IoT devices include limited

budgets but also lack of understanding of 

what to require.

Implementation

● Compile guidelines and best practices 

for entities to follow, e.g.:

○ NIST IR-8255: Interoperability of

Real-Time Public Safety Data

○ CISA SAFECOM Interoperability 

Continuum

○ etc.

● Coordinate with relevant stakeholders, 

including product manufacturers and 

state/local agencies, to ensure 

widespread adoption.

Barriers

● Resistance from jurisdictions and 

public safety agencies that have 

already invested in an IoT solution

● Resistance from industry 

manufacturers because of concerns 

about their proprietary solutions

Agencies

● National Institute of Standards and 

Technology (NIST)

● Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS), Cybersecurity and 

Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

● Others?

Federal Considerations ● Procurement: Prioritize solutions which 

adhere to interoperability guidelines in 

govt contracts for public safety IoT

○ Bulk purchase pricing a la GSA catalog

● Tax Incentives: To companies that 

implement public safety IoT with 

interoperable data standards.

● Promotion: Promote interoperable data 

guidelines for public safety IoT and 

educate local/regional jurisdictions.
Incentivize Budget Prioritization for Public Safety IoT

Create a stockpile of public safety IOT 

devices that are finite in type and need, 

but contains a medley of manufacturers to 

choose from rather than a single or a 

couple of manufacturers from which 

stockpiles are sourced. Refresh the 

stockpile per labeling requirements and 

best use-by date.

Justification

Without citizens living in safe 

environments and conditions, the US 

government has no public safety

matters to deal with. Therefore, the 

safety and wellbeing of each and every 

citizen is paramount and vital to all 

nations. Having a stockpile of certified 

and approved devices to be used by law 

enforcement, EMS, fire, and rescue will 

enable public safety officials to arrive at 

scenes of crime and disasters armed 

with devices that interoperate, can be 

shared/exchanged while on duty, and 

enable ease-of-use

Implementation

● Similar to the HHS stockpiles of 

vaccines, PPE, etc., we recommend 

the US government add public safety 

devices to their procurement list.

● Initial and ongoing funding is needed 

along with cooperation from 

manufacturers who wish to participate 

in the stockpile program develop APIs 

and interoperability to other

competing and complementary

devices.

Barriers

● Lack of funding and resources 

needed to manage an additional set 

of assets found in stockpile.

Agencies

● FCC

● HHS

● DHS

● Others?

Federal Considerations ● The safety and well being of all its

citizens, namely, the purpose for why the 

US government exists.
.

Justification

Implementation Barriers

Agencies Federal Considerations