IETF eyes 'Net emergency communications: "The IETF has kicked off an effort to develop communications protocols needed to support emergency communications over the Internet. The new IETF working group is called Emergency Context Resolutions with Internet Technologies (ECRIT). ECRIT is looking for a way to route emergency calls over the Internet similar to the way in which 911 calls are routed over the public switched telephone network (PSTN). If successful, ECRIT would have a significant effect on service providers, including traditional wireline and wireless carriers, ISPs and start-up VoIP providers, because they would need to upgrade network hardware and software to support any new system."

An important new report on interoperability: "Toward Interoperable First Response - Wireless services that accommodate disparate federal, state, and local systems are key to a coordinated first response to US public-safety threats."

State of Georgia Interoperability Initiatives: "Today Governor Sonny Perdue announced two projects designed to improve communication between Georgia law enforcement and first responders towards during emergency situations. Public safety agencies communicate over different frequencies including VHF, UHF and 800 MHz. The variety of communication methods cause difficulty for neighboring jurisdictions to request assistance during major incidents. According to members of Georgia's first responder community, reliable communications that cross jurisdictional lines is a key initiative on the local, state and national level. "

SAFECOM Announces Tool for Creating Statewide Interoperable Communications"The Department of Homeland Security’s SAFECOM Program and the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility recently announced a tool with a step-by-step process for developing a locally-driven statewide strategic plan for enhancing communications interoperability. The Statewide Communications Interoperability Planning Methodology, which can be downloaded from SAFECOM’s Web site, is based on the strategic planning approach jointly developed and tested by the Commonwealth of Virginia and OIC/SAFECOM to create the Virginia statewide interoperability plan in 2004."

Agencies train for mass casualties: "Some 800 first-responders and law officers from about 20 agencies - who don't all speak the same language - are training here this month as part of a Tucson Fire Department mass casualty training program. The agencies range from police, who speak in a '10-code,' to area fire departments and medical personnel who speak their own language, along with federal agencies and private industry."

Police: Manhunt marred by poor communication: "Atlanta's police chief Friday said last week's deadly courthouse shooting and the subsequent manhunt for a suspect points to the need for improvements in communications and leadership protocol during emergencies."

Colorado state system funding: "State grant funds totaling $13 million to improve the local and state communications network in rural areas are now available, and Cortez may apply for the funds that would enable fire and police responders to exchange clearer messages in areas with bad reception. The funds were opened up by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs in cooperation with the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Department of Information Technology. The monies will go toward updating the state's Digital Trunk Radio system infrastructure, including microwave towers and site equipment, said Barbara Kirkmeyer, spokesperson for DOLA. The DTR system's construction began in 1998, providing a single system in Colorado establishing radio communication among public safety and emergency responders. The system's building and design has been done through partnerships between state local agencies."

'Interoperability' goal of Big Sky 11: "In the end, Montanans should be safer. In the meantime, counties are struggling to lay the groundwork for a statewide communication system that will cost millions and is still years from reality."

Homeland Security Funds Split California Interests: "At first blush, a vote to allocate $5.6 million for an emergency radio system to link Alameda and Contra Costa counties signaled unprecedented regional cooperation driven by homeland security concerns. But beneath the sunny veneer of the Feb. 9 vote by a two-county committee that administers federal grant funds for the East Bay is a fragile alliance that continues to feel the strain of partners clamoring to make sure their individual needs are met."

Homeland funds split East Bay: "OAKLAND - At first blush, a vote to allocate $5.6 million for an emergency radio system to link Alameda and Contra Costa counties signaled unprecedented regional cooperation driven by homeland security concerns."

Mississippi legislature is looking to build a statewide radio system: "Senate Bill 2514, which passed the Senate earlier this month and is now in both the House public utilities and appropriations committees, would create the Mississippi Wireless Communication Commission. Its aim would be to investigate 'implementing a statewide radio communications system to serve wireless users in state and local governments and those private entities that enter into a partnership with the commission.'"

Feds warn city on incompatible radios: "Oakland advised not to buy handhelds that won't talk with area-wide emergency network. Federal radio experts are advising Oakland against plans to buy thousands of upgraded handheld radios for its fire, police and other agencies unless the radios can talk seamlessly with a larger, East Bay-wide network under development."

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."