Interoperable Communications

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eNATOA SAFECOM and Public Safety a post 9/11
effort for local interoperability

SAFECOM Overview Ken Fellman Mayor, Arvada,
Colorado Kissinger Fellman, P.C. 303-320-6100 kf
ellman_at_kandf.com www.kandf.com
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What Is Communications Interoperability and Why
Is It Important?

• Defined The ability of emergency
  response agencies to talk across disciplines and
  jurisdictions via radio communications systems,
  exchanging voice and/or data with one another on
  demand, in real time, when authorized.
• Interoperability
• Improves the ability of emergency responders to
  reduce the loss of life and property in emergency
  situations
• Facilitates rapid and efficient interaction among
  all emergency response organizations
• Provides immediate and coordinated assistance in
  day-to-day missions and mass-casualty incidents
• Interoperability affects not only emergency
  responders, but the public service arena as well,
  including legislative officials, utilities
  agencies, and chief information officers

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• SAFECOM ADVOCATES A BOTTOM-UP APPROACH relies
  heavily on local and state public safety
  practitioners input and guidance to define and
  implement solutions for the interoperability
  challenge
• SAFECOM understandings and priorities
• Local, tribal and state agencies will continue to
  own the vast majority of the public safety
  communications infrastructure.
• First priority is reliable agency-specific
  communications of local, tribal and state public
  safety communications systems.  Second priority
  is reliable local interagency communications. 
  Third priority is reliable interagency
  communications between local, tribal, state, and
  federal agencies.
• Functional and technical requirements for public
  safety communications equipment vary across
  jurisdictions and are determined at the local
  level.
• Public safety communications will continue to
  operate on a variety of technologies across
  fragmented spectrum bands.

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SAFECOM is working on short term improvements to
public safety communications interoperability and
long term solutions

• What follows is information on SAFECOM provided
  by the Department of Homeland Security, Office
  for Interoperability and Compatibility
• NATOA appreciates DHS and SAFECOMs provision of
  this information for eNATOA participants.

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Defining the Problem

• Emergency responders often have difficulty
  communicating when adjacent emergency response
  agencies are assigned to different radio bands,
  use incompatible proprietary systems and
  infrastructure, and lack adequate standard
  operating procedures and effective
  multi-jurisdictional, multi-disciplinary
  governance structures.

Effective communications can mean the difference
between life and death.
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OIC Background
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
established the Office for Interoperability and
Compatibility (OIC) in 2004 to strengthen and
integrate interoperability and compatibility
efforts in order to improve local, tribal, state,
and Federal emergency preparedness and response.
Managed by the Science and Technology (ST)
Directorate, OIC is assisting in the coordination
of interoperability efforts. OIC programs and
initiatives address critical interoperability and
compatibility issues. Priority areas include
communications, equipment, and training.
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SAFECOM Functions
SAFECOM, a presidential management initiative, is
a communications program of OIC. With its
Federal partners, SAFECOM provides research,
development, testing and evaluation, guidance,
tools, and templates on communications-related
issues to local, tribal, state, and Federal
emergency response agencies.

• SAFECOM is working to improve emergency response
  through more effective and efficient
  interoperable wireless communications.
• SAFECOM is not authorized to procure or provide
  funding for communications equipment.

SAFECOM Background
SAFECOM was established by the Office of
Management and Budget and approved by the
Presidents Management Council as a critical
e-Government initiative in 2002. It was created
to coordinate all Federal efforts related to
communications interoperability.

• SAFECOM was originally managed by the Federal
  Emergency Management Agency, and was then
  transferred to the DHS ST Directorate in 2003.
• In 2004, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
  Prevention Act (Public Law 108-458) established
  OIC and merged SAFECOM under OIC.

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SAFECOMs Strategy

• Objective Achieve interoperability for the
  Nations emergency
• response community
• Promote a system-of-systems approach through use
  of standards-based communications equipment.
• Encourage establishment of governing bodies to
  foster a culture of cooperation and sharing
  across agencies and jurisdictions.
• Support prioritization and funding of
  interoperability among local, tribal, state, and
  Federal leadership.
• Advance standardization of training and exercise
  programs.
• Support daily use of interoperable equipment
  throughout regions.

Success Emergency response service and support
providers are able to talk with each other via
voice and data on demand, in real time, when
needed, and when authorized.
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SAFECOMs Impact
Backup Slides
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SAFECOM Accomplishments

• Published the Statewide Communications
  Interoperability Planning (SCIP) Methodology
  Step-by-step planning guide for developing a
  locally driven statewide strategic plan, setting
  the foundation for interoperable communications
• Conducted the Regional Communications
  Interoperability Pilots (RCIPs) Initiatives
  coordinated on the ground to assist
  implementation of statewide planning processes
  which will result in models and tools for all 50
  states
• Led RapidCom 1 Initiatives in the top 10
  high-threat urban areas to establish emergency
  communications at the command level within 1 hour
  of an event provided policy guidance,
  facilitated table top exercises, and supported
  governance bodies
• Supported the Acceleration of the Project 25
  Suite of Standards Standards that help produce
  equipment that is interoperable and compatible
  regardless of manufacturer

SAFECOMs guidance documents and tools are
available at www.safecomprogram.gov
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SAFECOM Accomplishments (Cont.)

• Developed SAFECOM Grant Guidance Guidance
  document that encourages states to develop and
  adhere to statewide interoperability plans when
  purchasing equipment using Federal funds. This
  guidance was included in over 2 billion in
  grants.
• Published Public Safety Architecture Framework
  (PSAF) Volumes I and II Document that helps
  emergency response agencies map system
  requirements and identify system gaps
• Published the Statement of Requirements (SoR)
  Volume I, v1.0 and v1.1 Document that provides
  specifications to manufacturers and enables them
  to build equipment that meets emergency
  responders communications needs
• Established the National Interoperability
  Baseline Methodology Survey and methodology
  effort that will provide a quantitative
  assessment of the capacity for emergency response
  interoperable communications across the Nation

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SAFECOM Forward Thinking

• Develop SCIP Methodology Version 2.0 Updated
  planning guide that includes lessons learned from
  RCIPs to develop more effective statewide
  interoperability plans
• Release PSAF Volume III Automated data entry
  tool to help emergency response agencies in
  mapping system requirements and identifying gaps
• Release Updated SoR Volume II, v1.0 Updated
  document that provides specifications to
  manufacturers, enabling them to build equipment
  to meet the emergency response communitys
  interoperable communications needs

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SAFECOM Forward Thinking (Cont.)

• Update SAFECOMs Grant Guidance Updated
  guidance document that encourages states, when
  purchasing equipment using Federal grants, to
  develop and adhere to statewide interoperability
  plans
• Conduct Three to Five Additional RCIPs Every Year
  Statewide planning initiatives that continue to
  help states develop effective interoperable
  communications plans and produce replicable tools
  and models that can be used across the Nation

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SAFECOM Upcoming Tools and Resources

• Guide for a Memorandum of Understanding Tool
  that provides information on creating a framework
  for mutual accountability among multiple
  jurisdictions
• Guide for Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
  Version 1 Tool that provides instructions to
  assist emergency responders in creating effective
  SOPs
• Request for Proposal (RFP) Guidebook Guide to
  assist practitioners with the RFP development
  process that will help maximize resources and
  inform purchasing decisions
• Improving Interoperability Through Shared
  Channels Guide to help state and local
  interoperability coordinators create a regional
  channel plan
• Communications Unit Leader Training Training
  assistance for all-hazards Incident Command
  System Communications Unit Leaders. Provides the
  ability to carry out interagency communications 

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