Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003 1

eNATOA

SAFECOM and Public Safety:

a post 9/11 effort for local interoperability

SAFECOM OverviewKen Fellman

Mayor, Arvada, ColoradoKissinger & Fellman, P.C.

303-320-6100kfellman@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 SAFECOM’s provision of this information for eNATOA participants.

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Defining the ProblemEmergency 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 BackgroundThe 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 (S&T) 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, 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 Functions

SAFECOM BackgroundSAFECOM was established by the Office of Management and Budget and approved by the President’s 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 S&T 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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SAFECOM’s StrategyObjective: Achieve interoperability for the Nation’s 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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Backup Slides

SAFECOM’s Impact

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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

SAFECOM’s 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 community’s interoperable communications needs

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SAFECOM Forward Thinking (Cont.) Update SAFECOM’s 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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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 

SAFECOM Upcoming Tools and Resources