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Leveraging State and Local Capabilities Through the Federal Partnership for Interoperable Communications

Office of Emergency Communications

Texas Radio Coalition

April 14, 2008

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Current Topic

OEC Overview

FPIC Overview

Shared Infrastructure Activities

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OEC supports and promotes the ability of emergency responders and government officials to continue to communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters, and works to

ensure, accelerate, and attain interoperable and operable emergency communications nationwide.

Office of Emergency Communications

IWNNon-RDT&E

Other Title XVIII

mandates

Title XVIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended, established the Office of Emergency Communications

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Administer SAFECOM, ICTAP, and IWN

Foster development of interoperable emergency communications capabilities

Conduct outreach to State, local, tribal governments (S/L/T)

Provide Technical Assistance (TA) in the use of interoperable emergency communications to S/L/T

Promote Standard Operating Procedures, Best Practices, and tools for incident response interoperable emergency communications capabilities

Develop the National Emergency Communications Plan

Provide grant guidance and review emergency communications plans submitted for interoperable emergency communications grant programs

OEC establishes capabilities supporting seamless, interoperable communications across government at all levels through the following roles and responsibilities

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With other Federal Agencies

– SAFECOM program jointly managed with DHS Science and Technology Directorate

– Partnerships with FEMA, Departments of Commerce, Justice, and others

With States, localities, and tribal nations

– Technical Assistance: SCIPs and CASM

– Stakeholder Outreach: guidance documents and working groups

– SAFECOM Executive Committee and Emergency Response Council: promoting good governance

OEC facilitates cross-governmental coordination

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STEP 2 Leverage Existing

EmergencyCommunications

Documentation

STEP 3Conduct

Interviews toCollect

Additional Data

STEP 4Produce

Findings and Recommendations

STEP 5Review and

Coordinate theAssessment

STEP 1 Develop

Capabilities Assessment Framework

The National Communications Capabilities Report provides a “Snapshot” of Interoperability Nationwide

Defines the range of capabilities needed

Assesses current capabilities

Establishes an inventory of communications capabilities and equipment in use by Federal, State, local departments and agencies

Leverages SAFECOM materials as well as Tactical Interoperable Communications Scorecards, SCIPs, and other documents

Provides valuable input into the National Emergency Communications Plan

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OEC will develop a National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) in cooperation with State, local, and tribal governments, Federal departments and agencies, emergency response providers, and the private sector

Provides recommendations to support and promote the ability of practitioners and relevant government officials to continue to communicate during an incident

Ensures, accelerates, and attains interoperable emergency communications nationwide

Coordinates with users to incorporate their input into the plan

Sets OECs agenda for the future

– Emergency Communications Grant Programs and Guidance

– Future Assessments and Reports

– Emergency Communications Preparedness Center

– Regional Emergency Coordination Centers assessments of the survivability, sustainability, and interoperability of local systems

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Secretary of Commerce

Secretary of Defense

Secretary of the Interior

Secretary of the Treasury

FCC Chairman

Attorney General

Secretary of DHS(Chair)

Federal Interoperability

The Emergency Communications Preparedness Center is an inter-departmental organization to assess and coordinate Federal emergency communications

Established by Title XVIII of 2002 Homeland Security Appropriations Act

Comprised of 7 Secretary-level representatives

Focal point for interagency efforts

Clearinghouse for intergovernmental information on emergency communications

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Current Topic

OEC Overview

FPIC Overview

Shared Infrastructure Activities

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OEC supports the Federal Partnership for Interoperable Communications (FPIC) and its activities

In 1994, the Departments of Treasury and Justice signed a memorandum of understanding formalizing the Federal Law Enforcement Wireless Users Group (FLEWUG), which served as an information exchange mechanism for the federal wireless communications community

The need to have a technical and operational advisor representing the broader Federal wireless community led to FLEWUG’s reestablishment as the FPIC

Currently, FPIC is sponsored by the DHS OEC to support DHS’ strategy to improve communications operability, establish interoperability, and enhance capabilities of the Federal Government

1994

FLEWUG Established

1998

PSWN Formed under FLEWUG Direction

2002

FPIC Formed as an Advisor to SAFECOM

2007

FPIC Operates under DHS OEC Sponsorship

1990

Federal Agencies Met Informally

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The FPIC serves as a coordination and advisory body to address technical and operational issues relative to interoperability within the federal wireless communications community

Mission—

– To address federal wireless communications interoperability by fostering intergovernmental cooperation and identifying and leveraging common synergies

Goals—

– Act as communicating agent to federal users about mission critical wireless communications issues and coordinate a unified federal approach

– Coordinate with member departments and agencies to develop recommendations from a federal perspective to appropriate advisory and regulatory bodies*

– Identify and enhance wireless communications interoperability capabilities within the Federal Government and coordinate these efforts with ongoing/existing state and local interoperability programs

* Examples include standards development organizations, Office of Interoperability and Compatibility, and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

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To support OECs mission, FPIC members meet specific objectives

Foster partnerships among Federal agencies that promote the exchange of knowledge and resources among the members

Provide federal user input to organizations addressing state and local interoperability activities (e.g., Office of Interoperability and Compatibility [OIC]) as appropriate;

Identify issues and articulate a unified FPIC position relative to the development of standards and specifications (e.g., Project 25 standards development)

Identify issues and develop a unified FPIC position relative to security, standards, and spectrum that impact federal interoperability and interaction with state and local agencies

Serve as the federal wireless communications community’s liaison to industry, periodically obtaining technical updates and equipment reviews from vendors.

FPIC is the envisioned catalyst for the implementation of priorities raised by the entire federal wireless communications community

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FPIC membership is open to Federal employees that are involved in or are interested in learning about wireless communications

FPIC participants have experience or responsibilities in the following areas—– Program Managers– Radio Communications Managers– IT and Land Mobile Radio Specialists– Telecommunications Engineers

FPIC advisory members include—– State and local public safety officials

– Federal regulatory representatives from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

– Spectrum Managers– Security Specialists– State Communications Interoperability

Coordinators

FPIC encourages Federal, State, and local agencies to participate in its activities and to identify interoperability concerns

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The FPIC membership consists of 44 Federal entities representing more than 200 participants*

Participating Departments Entities Within Department

Department of Homeland Security

Customs and Border Protection Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Federal Emergency Management Agency Office of Emergency Communications Office of Interoperability and Compatibility Transportation Security Administration United States Coast Guard United States Secret Service Wireless Services Division

Department of Justice

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

Drug Enforcement Administration Federal Bureau of Investigations Federal Bureau of Prisons National Institute of Justice United States Marshals Service Wireless Management Office

Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigations Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management National Park Service - United States Park Police OCIO, Wireless Programs and Spectrum

Management Office Office of Law Enforcement, Security and

Emergency Management United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Department of Energy Spectrum Management Office* State and local agencies participate as

advisory members

Participating Departments Entities Within Department

Department of Defense

Joint Spectrum Management Office United States Air Force - Civil Air Patrol National Technology Center United States Army - Assistant Project Manager, Land Mobile Radio - Military District of Washington United States Navy - Commander Navy Installations United States NORTHCOM United States Marine Corps - E-LMR Support Marine Corps Network

Operations and Security Command - Navy Marine Corps Spectrum Center Office of the Secretary of Defense

Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Office of the Chief Information Officer Office of Enforcement United States Forest Service

Department of Commerce

NTIA—Institute for Telecommunication Sciences NTIA—Office of Spectrum Management/

Emergency Planning and Public Safety Division

Other Member Departments and Agencies

Department of State Department of Transportation Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General

United States Postal Inspection Service Department of Heath and Human Services Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of the Inspector General

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Current Topic

OEC Overview

FPIC Overview

Shared Infrastructure Activities

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Current OEC Initiatives

Planned OEC Initiatives

Advisory Members to FPIC

Federal Representative on State Council

OEC improves interoperability assurance by working with FPIC to coordinate the integration of Federal users onto Statewide systems

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OEC Shared Infrastructure Projects enhance emergency communications interoperability

The FPIC sponsors regional communications working groups to provide guidance within specific geographical areas

– 2010 Olympics Communications Interoperability Working Group– Southwest Border Communications Working Group– Gulf Coast Communications Working Group

Through FPIC, OEC supports interoperability assistance projects by identifying available spectrum, collecting requirements, enhancing capabilities, addressing policy issues, and collaborating agreements among Federal, State, and local agencies

– Wyoming– Virginia– Oregon– Arizona– Texas

These projects will establish technical interoperability models, adapt policy to better facilitate interoperability, and allow Federal users access to

statewide systems

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Wyoming Integration Project

FPIC initiated Federal partnership with the State of Wyoming to develop a plan for system upgrade and modernization that includes the integration of Federal users

Wyoming is a strong candidate for integration given the relatively low number of Federal users and the large area of responsibility

This project enhances Federal communications capabilities and interoperability among Federal, State and local agencies through integration and resource sharing

Benefits of Integration

Enhanced Capabilities, such as:

– Discrete and shared talkgroups

– Mobile data

– Advanced encryption standard (AES) voice encryption

– Over-the-Air-Rekeying (OTAR)

Cost effective approach to capability enhancement

Expanded coverage capabilities beyond those that would have been achieved without integration

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WyoLink and Federal Agency Comparative Coverage

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Virginia Integration Project

The State of Virginia is implementing the Virginia Statewide Agencies Radios System (VA STARS) and requested the FPIC to be the single coordinating point for all Federal agencies operating in Virginia

FPIC is coordinating Federal agencies’ level of participation by collecting agency-specific requirements and providing a forum for participants to address technical and operational concerns

Benefits of Integration

Access to shared interagency talk groups

Collaborative approach for user transition from legacy system

Increased coverage

Enhanced interoperability with State and potentially local agencies

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Oregon Integration Project

OWIN requested Federal stakeholder participation through the FPIC to jointly develop and implement the proof-of-concept interoperability solution

OEC is coordinating with Oregon officials to integrate Federal users into their demonstration project

The project will provide interoperability along the I-5 corridor in Marion County

Benefits of Integration

Lays the groundwork for full-interoperable wireless communications among various Federal, State, and local users

Proves the effective, shared use of Government and non-government interoperability channels, and may drive permanent spectrum-sharing regulatory change

Establishes a common interoperability mode of operation and channel nomenclature for system subscribers

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OEC is in the initial coordination phase for Arizona and Texas Integration projects

Texas

– PSIC grants will fund the implementation of a statewide system

– OEC is involved in both the integration of Federal users onto the statewide system and assisting Texas in resolving cross-border communications issues

Arizona

– Arizona Public Safety Communications Commission is planning an expansion of the Yuma Regional Communications System and the Phoenix Regional Wireless Network

– OEC is coordinating the integration of Federal users onto the system and will provide a solution that allows non-trunked users to interface onto the Arizona system

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OEC encourages public safety agencies to partner and share resources for the common good

Federal agencies are recognizing the benefits of partnering with state and regional efforts to include—

– Leveraging existing resources in a shared environment

– Realizing built-in interoperability with participants

– Choosing cost efficient solutions

OEC will continue to—

– Identify and support Federal, State, local, tribal partnerships

– Negotiate win-win solutions for agencies to share resources

– Promote Project 25 standards development and standards-based architectures

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Jim DownesDivision Chief, OECChair, FPIC703.235.5069james.downes@dhs.gov

Don AshleyVice Chair, FPIC202.598.2045donald.ashley@tigta.treas.gov

Jeanette ManfraOEC Program Support703.235.5372jeanette.manfra@associates.dhs.gov

For additional information on OEC or to join the FPIC, please contact—