National Coordinating Committee for Government Radiocommunications NCCGR

1
National Coordinating Committee for Government
Radiocommunications (NCCGR)

• FleetMobiles Conference 2005
• Peter Fowler
• Chairman NCCGR

2
Rationale

• Established from a national will to address the
  core issues of
• Spectrum
• Inter-jurisdictional operations and,
• Ensure that the relevant issues are considered
  and discussed within a national framework
• Formed with the endorsement of jurisdiction
  Premiers/Chief Ministers
• Has COAG oversight

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Backdrop

• Inter-Government Spectrum Harmonisation Committee
  (ISHC) formed in early 2001
• ISHC formed to ascertain national interest for
• A harmonised strategic mobile radio plan for
  government radio networks
• Focussed on essential and emergency services
• Consisted of representatives from all Australian
  jurisdictions
• Facilitated by the Australian Communications
  Authority (ACA)
• Deliberations were spectrum centric
• No clear alignment between Australian and
  International spectrum plans
• World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC) 2000
  proposed identification of harmonised spectrum
  for Public Protection and Disaster Relief
  applications
• WRC 2003 unable to agree on globally harmonised
  arrangements
• Countries left make their own spectrum
  arrangements

4
Setting

• Now a jurisdictional matter and national will
• ACA facilitated establishment of NCCGR late 2003
  replacing ISHC
• Three meetings held to establish Governance and
  work programme
• In 2004 Prime Minister announced a review into
  Federal Government communications during a crisis
  
• Determine arrangements for a range of Federal
  Government emergency voice communications of
  which interoperability for Police and emergency
  services was identified
• Significant focus on terrorism and critical
  infrastructure

5
New Environment

• National Counter Terrorist Committee (NCTC)
• Coordinating review of voice communications
• Equipment logistics and,
• Interoperability
• NCCGR to provide NCTC with advice on
  jurisdictional matters

6
Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
Proposed reporting arrangements for the National
Coordinating Committee for Government
Radiocommunications
DRAFT 10 February 2005
National Counter Terrorism Committee
COAG Senior Officials Group
NCCGR Chair First Ministers Office
Jurisdictions First Ministers Office
Yes
National Security
No
National Coordinating Committee for Government
Radiocommunications
Working Groups
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Core Issues

• Long term access to Spectrum
• Narrowband
• Mobile Radio Services, Paging Services and text
  data transmission
• Wideband
• Fixed and mobile services for provision of wide
  area medium haul data
• Broadband
• Microwave services to support fixed
  radiocommunication services
• 802.XX fixed and mobile services including MESH
  technologies
• Provision of policies and definitions to enable
  inter-jurisdictional operations
• Issues considered and discussed within a national
  framework
• Standards
• Budget cycles
• Procurement cycles

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Current Activities

• Spectrum
• Australian Common User Channels ACA Embargo 36
• Working group on future requirements
• Identification of opportunities
• Interoperability proposed definition
• Interoperability is the ability for two or more
  different agencies to interact and exchange
  information, according to a prescribed method, in
  order to achieve successful outcomes
• Working group to identify interoperability layers
• Issues of national importance
• Railway Communications
• Radiocommunication coverage within public places
• Consideration of reports and investigations into
  emergencies and disasters
• Sharing of knowledge within jurisdictions

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Sustaining Impetus

• Coordination at a National level
• Requires commitment from governments
• Understanding from end users
• Diligence from those tasked to make things happen
• Patience from everyone
• Full appreciation will be seen by our next
  generation

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Thank you