Every day, local news stations report missing children, gang activities, drug wars, natural disasters, and other tragic events. People in the United States are concerned about public safety. Law enforcement and public safety workers must be provided with the best tools technology has to offer to make citizens secure in their homes and safe on their streets. Today, critical federal, state, and local public safety communications are transmitted over tactical land mobile radio systems. Communicating across different agencies is difficult because systems have been purchased that operate in different frequencies.
Most systems lack security and are open to interception and monitoring.
Amateur radio enthusiasts and criminals are able to purchase scanning devices to monitor law enforcement and public safety frequencies. In every metropolitan area of the country, federal, state, and local public safety officials operate separate tactical communications networks. This inefficient and expensive use of resources demands both technical and policy solutions. The prototype equipment was developed by several vendors, with federal agencies and the State of Virginia funding the demonstration. Improve the coordination of public safety wireless communications.