PUBLIC SAFETY
First-responders and other Emergency Response
personnel require dependable and secure communications to provide
the level of community wide public safety expected by its citizens.
After years of stand-alone radio and
telecommunication systems, the CONXX architecture provides
a unifying platform that allows the communication needs of
public safety to operate as an integrated service.
National Incidence Management System (NIMS)
FEMA Smart Practice report discusses interoperablility between
public safety agencies and it's seamless integration into
the National Incidence
Management System
(NIMS).
It describes the advantages of the wireless network platform
to address a very broad range of public safety communication
issues.
Emergency Operations Command Center (EOC)
and Joint Field Office (JFO)
In addition to reliable voice communications, public safety
officers require secure high-speed access to secure databases,
geographical information systems (GIS) and both standard and
high definition camera feeds.
The CONXX architecture enhances existing and planned service
connections so everyone from the police, fire, medical,
special operations and State and Federal agencies have the
ability to see and hear what is happening real time.
Designed from the ground up by government personnel to
solve the unique demands of government and public safety
operations, the standards based architecture ensures the
ability to prioritize critical communications, end-to-end,
across a city, county or multiple jurisdictions.
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Interoperability Defined - Interoperability
has different meanings depending on the
context, however, in the public safety
arena the term is generally understood
to mean "the ability for public safety
agencies and public services to talk to
one another via radio communications systems
and/or share information with one another
accurately, on demand, in real time, when
needed, and when authorized."
Source: NASCIO's Interoperability
& Integration Committee. Influences
from the National Task Force on Interoperability.
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Interoperability
Interoperability, "the ability for public safety agencies
and public services to talk to one another via radio communications
systems and/or share information with one another accurately,
on demand, in real time, when needed, and when authorized."
The CONXX architecture provides a unifying backbone that
allows phone systems, cameras, cell phones and 2-way radio
to work together rather than compete against each other.
Jurisdictional Interoperability
Because of funding limitations and unique capabilities,
today’s public safety responders often are required
to rely on resources shared by many jurisdictions. To avoid
a “tower of Babel” the communications infrastructure
must be capable of integrating the multitude of information
and communication systems.
Situational Awareness
Officer security demands improved situational awareness.
Officer and Public Safety can be greatly enhanced through
the enhanced capabilities allowed by the CONXX architecture.
The ability to provide enhanced services anywhere the network
reaches will enhance officer safety, supervision and overall
public safety and responsiveness.
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A single HD camera easily requires over
4Mb/s of high quality uninterrupted bandwidth.
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High Definition (HD) Cameras
Technological advances are bringing the enhanced capabilities
of high definition (HD) cameras into reach of public safety.
Until recently, HD cameras were so expensive that few were
able to be deployed. Today, the cameras are very cost effective
but their deployment is limited because they demand much
greater bandwidth to carry the streaming signals. A single
HD camera easily require over 4Mb/s of high quality uninterrupted
bandwidth.
Traditional telephone connections (T1's @ 1.54Mb/s) or
WiFi Mesh networks (typically 1 Mb/s throughput) are unable
to carry these demanding speeds. A CONXX network was designed
to carry multiple HD cameras simultaneously, day in and
day out.
Easily expandable, the CONXX network has the extremely
low delay and the critical packet prioritization requisite
to a successful next generation public safety network.
References
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Incident
Management System (NIMS) Smart Practice overview.
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/nims_smart_practice.shtm
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/
Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Science and Technology
Directorate's (S&T) Office for Interoperability and
Compatibility's (OIC) SAFECOM program
http://www.safecomprogram.gov/SAFECOM
Nevada Communication Interoperability Plan
http://nitoc.nv.gov//ncsc/DocsOfInterest/2006/
ncsc_Interoperability_Plan_2.0.pdf
Grant Programs for Public Safety Communications
http://www.safecomprogram.gov/SAFECOM/grant/default.htm
Where Can I Find Additional Resources?
There are several other initiatives currently underway in
the states and at the federal level to address the challenges
associated with achieving true communications interoperability.
SAFECOM
SAFECOM is the overarching umbrella program within the federal
government that oversees all Initiatives and projects pertaining
to public safety communications and interoperability. The
program is managed by the Department of Homeland Security,
and is housed within the Science and Technology Directorate.
http://www.safecomprogram.gov/SAFECOM
Capital Wireless Integrated Network (CapWIN)
A partnership between the state of Maryland, Commonwealth
of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, was created to
develop an interoperable first responder data communication
and information sharing network.
http://www.capwin.org
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8 (HSPD-8)
On December 17, 2003, President Bush issued HSPD-8 to establish
policies to strengthen the preparedness of the United States
to prevent and respond to threatened or actual domestic
terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies
by requiring a national domestic all-hazards preparedness
goal.
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/assessments/hspd8.htm
Target Capabilities List: Version 1.1, U.S. Department
of Homeland Security, Office of State and Local Government,
Coordination and Preparedness, May 23, 2005 - (Provides
section on interoperable communications).
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/TCL1_1.pdf
National Governor's Association (NGA) Policy Academy
on Wireless Interoperability
The NGA Policy Academy on Wireless Interoperability, a joint
effort between the NGA Center for Best Practices and the
U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) National Institute of
Justice (NIJ), selected five states to participate in the
Wireless Interoperability Policy Academy. Through the Academy,
NGA experts are working with high-level state teams from
Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada,
and Wisconsin to provide expertise, information,
and resources needed to prepare a plan for statewide wireless
interoperability.
http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.9123e83a1f6786440ddcbe
eb501010a0/?vgnextoid=93d31a37ab8e4010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD
&vgnextchannel=4b18f0 74f0d9ff00VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD
Oregon's State Interoperability Executive Council (SIEC)
Oregon's SEIC develops recommendations for policy and guidelines,
identifies technology and standards, and coordinates intergovernmental
resources to facilitate statewide wireless communications
interoperability with an emphasis on public safety.
http://egov.oregon.gov/SIEC
Virginia's Statewide Communications Interoperability
Planning (SCIP) Methodology
SAFECOM assisted the Commonwealth of Virginia to enhance
interoperability through the
development of a strategic plan for improving statewide
interoperable communications called the SCIP Methodology.
Created as an approach for other states to consider before
the state planning process, the SCIP Methodology describes
a step-by-step process for developing a locally driven statewide
strategic plan for enhancing communications interoperability.
http://www.safecomprogram.gov/SAFECOM/library/
interoperabilitycasestudies/1223_statewidecommunications.htm
Project 25 (P25)
P25 is the standard for interoperable digital two-way wireless
communications products and systems produced by the joint
efforts of the Association of Public-Safety
Communications Officials, International (APCO),
the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA), and the National
Association of State Telecommunications
Directors (NASTD), and standardized under
the Telecommunications Industry Association
(TIA).
http://www.project25.org
Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials,
International (APCO)
APCO is the world's oldest and largest non-profit professional
organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety
communications.
http://www.apcointl.org
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA)
The NTIA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce,
is the Executive Branch's principal voice on domestic and
international telecommunications and information technology
issues.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov
National Association of State Telecommunications Directors
(NASTD)
NASTD represents telecommunications and technology professionals
from the 50 states and the private sector.
http://www.nastd.org
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
The TIA is the leading U.S. non-profit trade association
serving the communications and information technology industry.
http://www.tiaonline.org
National Task Force on Interoperability (NTFI)
In response to the success of the National Public Safety
Wireless Interoperability Forum in October 2001, the National
Institute of Justice, Office of Science and Technology,
funded the creation of NTFI to foster the improvement of
cooperation among federal, state, and local government and
public safety agencies through the encouraged development
and use of interoperable communications systems.
http://www.safecomprogram.gov/SAFECOM/library/
interoperabilitybasics/1159_nationaltask.htm
NTFI Publications
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/assessments/hspd8.htm
National Emergency Number Association (NENA)
NENA's mission is to foster the technological advancement,
availability, and implementation of a universal emergency
telephone number system.
http://www.nena9-1-1.org
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Founded in 1901, NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency
within the U.S. Commerce Department's Technology Administration.
NIST's mission is to strengthen the nation's innovation,
trade, public safety and security, and jobs.
http://www.nist.gov
NIST Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES), Public
Safety Communications Standards Program is developing
standards for voice, data, image, and video transfers, drawing
on existing standards, discussions with end users regarding
their requirements, and participation in IT and wireless
standards committees.
http://www.eeel.nist.gov/810.02/public_safety.html
National Governor's Association Issue Brief - Strategies
for States to Achieve Public SafetyWireless Interoperability
http://www.nga.org/cda/files/0903INTEROP.pdf
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