Gov. Warner Announces Grants to Upgrade Virginia's First Responder Radio Systems: "Governor Mark R. Warner yesterday announced that Virginia is allocating $2.16 million in federal funding to 27 localities to support local interoperable communications projects and initiatives. This funding was awarded to Virginia by the federal Office of Domestic Preparedness (ODP) and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and will be received by the localities in the coming two weeks.

The State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) evaluated 62 local grant proposals that competed for up to $100,000 each, which includes 20 grant proposals that will be funded through a $1.7 million award from ODP. The Executive Committee also identified eight localities to receive a total of $460,000 in funding from the NIJ for local interoperability demonstration projects.
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DHS favors easing deadline on state security funds (2/22/05): "The Homeland Security Department would like to ease a stringent deadline for states to disburse federal funding to local communities for counterterrorism activities, a department official said Tuesday. 'We're trying to get away from' the 45-day deadline for states to distribute the funding, David Boyd, director of wireless communications activities at the department, said at a homeland security conference. He added that lawmakers are 'intensely interested' in the requirement, but the department believes careful planning by states over the fiscal year is necessary before sending the dollars to local firefighters, police officers and other emergency 'first responder' groups.

Also on Tuesday, Boyd made a plea to industry representatives to create information technology systems with 'open architectures' and without proprietary standards. 'If you don't, we'll have to,' said Boyd, who oversees the department's SAFECOM project to ensure that public-safety officials can communicate across jurisdictions. He also stressed that emergency responders need 'voices first' technology rather than data and imagery devices. 'A firefighter is not going to read' a handheld device while standing in a burning building, Boyd said. He said the first priority for emergency responders is communicating 'with their own troops' and the second is talking across jurisdictions. Boyd argued that federal agencies have to observe local rules and existing systems because 90 percent of wireless communications equipment is bought at the local level."

States still working on communications: "A new survey indicates that significant challenges remain in communications interoperability and development of centers to collect, analyze and share intelligence data among the 55 U.S. state and territorial governments . Officials have been working to prepare first responders to respond to terrorist attacks, establish homeland security and statewide emergency operations centers, and develop mutual aid agreements with other states. But the survey released this week by the National Governors Association's Center for Best Practices indicates that although statewide interoperability remains a top priority, getting the necessary equipment and technology remains a challenge. About 73 percent of state officials are still working on statewide interoperability, while 22 percent have achieved it, according to the report."

Department of Homeland Security FY 2006 Budget: "The Office of Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC) within the S&T Directorate will allow the Department to expand its leadership role in interoperable communications that could be used by every first responder agency in the country. The OIC has currently identified three program areas: communications, equipment, and training. With $20.5 million in FY 2006, the OIC will plan and begin to establish the training and equipment programs, as well as continue existing communication interoperability efforts through the SAFECOM Program."

News: Florida Counties Talk on Interoperable Network During Emergency: "The state of Florida's new Interoperability (IO) Network successfully assisted first responders in rapidly responding to a fire in Putnam County on January 25, 2005. During the first unplanned use of the IO network, fire-rescue stations from Putnam County were dispatched to a residential fire and explosion in the western region of the county. Realizing the need for mutual aid, Putnam County Fire Rescue needed to contact Alachua County immediately. "

Safecom SCIPs across states: "Federal officials unveiled a model plan yesterday that state officials can use to build grass-roots statewide interoperable communication networks. Officials for the Homeland Security Department's Safecom Program released the Statewide Communications Interoperability Planning (SCIP) methodology proposal, based on a statewide plan that Virginia agencies unveiled last October in their drive to create a network for all law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions."

New Jersey Interoperability: "New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey has appointed Raymond J. Hayling II as the state's first Chief Public Safety Communications Officer, a position designed to improve and coordinate New Jersey's public safety communications planning, funding and interoperability systems."

Virginia homeland security official details priorities: "Virginia's top priority is making sure communications among the state, local and federal government and the private sector are linked 'because, at the end of the day, our ability to prevent, respond and recover is largely dependent on our ability to communicate."

Michigan counties seek security funds: "First Responders from all 15 counties and five tribes across the Upper Peninsula are vying for Homeland Security funds to place all U.P. emergency agencies on the Michigan Public Safety Communications System."

Emergency Interoperability Consortium Announces Agreement with Department of Homeland Security to Promote Data Sharing During Emergencies: "The Emergency Interoperability Consortium (EIC) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to promote the development and proliferation of data sharing standards for emergency response. Thought to be the first of its kind between DHS and a non-government entity, the agreement establishes an alliance between the organizations to jointly promote the design, development, release, and use of XML standards to help solve data sharing problems commonly encountered during emergency operations. The initial term of the agreement is three years. "

Can We Just Talk?: "SACRAMENTO - The Sacramento Police Department received approval from the Sacramento City Council to accept a grant that will allow them to make critical improvements to an outdated radio communications system. The council also approved a request from the department to create a partnership with the County of Sacramento for system-wide upgrades. "

Communications Needs Remain Despite New Statewide System in Maine: "The new system is welcome, as it greatly enhances the state's communications capabilities as well as its overall responsiveness with respect to routine public safety and homeland security operations. But it is important that Mainers understand that the statewide installation of a new radio network will not solve the problem of interoperability by itself. It is essential for first responders in particular to know that the unified incident command structure that guides and supports them includes a robust and mobile communications infrastructure, sufficient redundancy, interoperability and a set of accepted protocols. All of that has yet to be accomplished."

Westport (CT) debates communications regionalization: "Westport's police and fire chiefs spent two hours explaining to town legislators Thursday the pros and cons of Westport becoming part of a regional emergency communication center. The upshot: fire is all for it, but the police are not. "

Executive Office of the Governor: "JACKSONVILLE - Governor Jeb Bush today announced a contract to provide Florida's law enforcement and first responders with an interoperable radio network. Through this contract, the Florida State Technology Office (STO) will establish a radio network that will enable first responders and law enforcement using different radio systems and frequencies, throughout the state, to communicate with each other."

Blogger: Tour - What's a blog?: "A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world."

Nevada ramping up with NGA Interoperability Efforts: "Sheriff Tony DeMeo was one of nine Nevadans selected to participate in the Emergency Response Communications Academy. According to a statement from Gov. Kenny Guinn, Nevada was chosen of one of five states to have a role in the so-called 'Public Safety Wireless Communication Interoperability Academy,' sponsored by the National Governors Association and the Center for Best Practices."

Communication awry in public safety: "No one knows how much fixing the problem will cost or how long it will take to do it, said George Foresman, [VA] Gov. Mark R. Warner's assistant for commonwealth preparedness.

'Everybody wants done today what it took 20 years to do in information technology,' Foresman said last week. 'We are 10 years, I believe, from [a solution] most people will consider appropriate.

'The reason has nothing to do with money, turf or people,' Foresman said. 'You don't reform three levels of government, the private sector, and multiple agencies overnight.'"

Panel: Interoperability About People More Than Technology: "There is a long way to go to resolve interoperable communications problems for first responders, with technology being the last and the least worrisome problem to solve, according to federal and local officials and public policy experts at an event sponsored by the New Millennium Research Council in Washington."

Grant will boost crisis communications : "CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department was awarded a $6 million grant to create an emergency communications network with 11 area N.C. and S.C. counties. The project will allow for real-time communications between first responders in the event of a natural disaster, homeland security issue or other emergency. "

Kentucky's First Responders: Removing Interoperability Barriers: "Kentucky's Executive Director of Homeland Security, Erwin Roberts, is working with KWIEC and the Commonwealth Office of Technology to get the most out of federal dollars now coming into Kentucky for homeland security. According to Roberts, 'The solution we envision will be addressing the needs of both local first responders and state agencies. And it's more than purchasing equipment that can provide for effective communication. The effort to help make Kentucky safer is requiring all first responders to see themselves as one team and be open to the idea of adopting shared ideas and common ways of planning and communicating.'"