Montana Public Safety Montana Public Safety WirelessWireless

The Road to InteroperabilityThe Road to Interoperability

Interoperability in MontanaInteroperability in Montana• The need for interoperability was observed

in the 1980s – communications among multiple responders was needed for:– Forest fires– Major traffic accidents– Train derailments– Etc., etc., etc.

• A set of 14 Mutual Aid and 5 Common frequencies was established in 1990 to insure interoperability for multi-agency responses - Each channel was designated by a color

Region 25 800 MHz CommitteeRegion 25 800 MHz Committee

• The National Public Safety Plan Region 25 Planning Committee was established in 1991 to develop an 800 MHz frequency plan for the State of Montana

• Plan was completed in 1992 and submitted to FCC for approval

• Plan set aside a set of frequencies for interoperability

Montana Public Safety Montana Public Safety Communications Task ForceCommunications Task Force

• Established in 1994 to initiate public safety communications planning for Montana and address issues of “Refarming”

• Consultant hired to survey public safety agencies in the State and determine their priorities – interoperability and mobile data topped the list

• Consultant developed long range plan for implementation of a statewide system

Montana Public Safety Montana Public Safety Communications CouncilCommunications Council

• Established in 1997 to develop a detailed implementation plan, system budgetary estimates, etc.

• Plan was developed for a statewide trunked VHF hiband system based on Project 25 standards

• Estimated system budget was $250 million! A bit too much to be submitted to the Legislature

Montana Public Safety Communications Montana Public Safety Communications Council/Statewide Interoperability Council/Statewide Interoperability

Executive Council (SIEC)Executive Council (SIEC)

• Council reformulated in 2002 as the State’s SIEC

• Currently planning a statewide system based on P25, but not necessarily trunked

• Also, currently pursuing two major concept demonstration projects

Region 25 700 MHz CommitteeRegion 25 700 MHz Committee

• FCC established a set of 700 MHz frequencies for public safety use – strong emphasis on interoperability

• A Region 25 700 MHz planning committee formed in 2002 – currently developing plan for 700 MHz use in public safety in Montana

What’s Already Been DoneWhat’s Already Been Done• Palisades Project – Multi-agency, shared, RF

tower site developed by Montana Public Safety Communications Association & funded by PSWN (2001)

• Mobile Data Systems – Eastern & Western Montana mobile data systems currently being implemented (2001 – present)– EASTERN – Yellowstone County (in place), Butte-Silver Bow,

Cascade/Great Falls, Gallatin/Bozeman, Lewis & Clark/Helena, MHP

– WESTERN – Missoula (in place), Ravalli & Flathead Counties, MHP

The Montana Public Safety The Montana Public Safety Communications Communications

Council/Statewide Council/Statewide Interoperability Executive Interoperability Executive

CouncilCouncilBrian WolfBrian Wolf

State of Montana CIOState of Montana CIO

The Montana Consolidation Site Pilot—A Solution for Public Safety Interoperability

Derek Siegle, FBIWireless Montana Workshop

Montana State UniversitySeptember 26, 2003

TODAY’S BRIEFING WILL DISCUSS TODAY’S BRIEFING WILL DISCUSS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A THE DEVELOPMENT OF A

CONSOLIDATION SITE PILOT IN CONSOLIDATION SITE PILOT IN THE STATE OF MONTANATHE STATE OF MONTANA

Specifically, this briefing will—

Discuss the importance of wireless interoperability

Provide a quick overview of the Public Safety Wireless Network (PSWN) Program

Highlight the background, importance, and goal of the consolidation site pilot in Montana

Describe the key organizations and processes involved in developing the pilot

Provide best practices from the development and installation of the pilot

Emphasize how the pilot can be used to address Montana’s emerging communications needs

WHY IS WIRELESS WHY IS WIRELESS INTEROPERABILITY IMPORTANT?INTEROPERABILITY IMPORTANT?

Wireless communications interoperability is necessary to—– Improve the ability of public safety officers to save lives and property– Facilitate rapid and efficient interaction among all public safety organizations– Provide immediate and coordinated assistance in day-to-day missions, task force operations,

and mass-casualty incidents

World Trade Center Attack, New York City—September 11, 2001– After the south tower collapsed, police helicopters relayed a message for public safety officials

to evacuate the north tower– Firefighters never received the police warning because their legacy radio systems

malfunctioned and did not interoperate with the police communications systems

Alfred P. Murrah Building Bombing, Okalahoma City—April 19, 1995– In the aftermath of the attack, 117 local, state, and federal agencies responded with more than

1,500 personnel on the scene– Overwhelming call volume and disparate frequencies complicated emergency response– Responders were forced to rely on relay runners to disseminate critical, time-sensitive

information

Wireless Interoperability is a Public Safety and Homeland Security Priority

THE PSWN PROGRAM HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A THE PSWN PROGRAM HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A LEADING RESOURCE FOR INTEROPERABILITY LEADING RESOURCE FOR INTEROPERABILITY

INFORMATION, STRATEGIES, AND SOLUTIONSINFORMATION, STRATEGIES, AND SOLUTIONS The PSWN Program was the Federal Government’s first dedicated and coherent effort to tackle the

lack of interoperability and the various impediments blocking it

Since 1996, the PSWN Program has provided the leadership and logical approaches to overcome challenges to achieving interoperability at the local, state, and federal levels

The program continues to innovate by expanding outreach efforts, implementing new solutions, and developing new practices that inform and shape new policy

The program is transitioning to become a critical foundation for the umbrella interoperability organization SAFECOM

THE PSWN PROGRAM WORKED WITH THE STATE OF THE PSWN PROGRAM WORKED WITH THE STATE OF MONTANA AND ITS MONTANA PUBLIC SAFETY MONTANA AND ITS MONTANA PUBLIC SAFETY

COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (PSCA) TO DEVELOP A COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (PSCA) TO DEVELOP A

CONSOLIDATED TOWER PILOTCONSOLIDATED TOWER PILOT

Pilot stemmed from a statewide initiative to enhance and upgrade wireless communications systems

– Systems are integral to the safe and efficient completion of public safety missions

Selected site was a single shelter on Palisades Ridge near Red Lodge, MT

– Strategic location because of its use by multiple local, state, and federal radio users

Goal was to upgrade and assist multiple public safety agencies in consolidating their radio resources

Related objectives of the pilot include— – Fostering resource sharing– Improving wireless interoperability– Helping launch a repeatable site collection effort

State of Montana

Consolidation site at Palisades

Ridge

THE USER REQUIREMENTS OF SIX PUBLIC SAFETY THE USER REQUIREMENTS OF SIX PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES PARTICIPATING IN THE CONSOLIDATION AGENCIES PARTICIPATING IN THE CONSOLIDATION

EFFORT WERE RESEARCHED AND ADDRESSEDEFFORT WERE RESEARCHED AND ADDRESSED These agencies included—

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

CARBON COUNTY

FEDERAL BUREAUOF INVESTIGATIONS

MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

MONTANA HIGHWAY PATROL

U.S. FOREST SERVICE

The requirements were used as the basis for developing the tower design and constructing the new shelter

BASED ON THE PARTICIPANT’S INPUT, A STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) WAS DEVELOPED

The SOW was created for purposes of soliciting quotations from vendors—

– Called for a 52-foot tower and 22-foot by 12-foot shelter

– Tower specifications included a provision that allows future modification to extend its height to 100 feet

– Shelter specifications called for a robust structure that could withstand harsh weather conditions

Report on soil test finished and

delivered

Work suspendeddue to fire near

Red Lodge area

Work resumed

July, 2000 August, 2000 October, 2000

Shelter foundation installed

June, 2001

2001

July, 2001

New shelter delivered

A VENDOR WAS SELECTED AND WORK WAS UNDER WAY IN JULY, 2000

2000

Tower and new shelter installed in August 2001

THE CONSOLIDATED SITE REPLACES THE EXISTING TOWERS WITH A SINGLE, SELF-SUPPORTING 52-FOOT TOWER

A safety-climbing device is installed, which can be seen extending slightly above the main tower

An additional 48-foot section can be added to the tower to bring the total height to 100 feet

Step bolts for climbing are installed on one of the three legs of the tower

THE EXISTING SHELTER HAS BEEN COMPLETELY RENOVATED AND IMPROVED FROM ITS ORIGINAL STRUCTURE

A meter is installed adjacent to the door of the shelter

MAIN POWER (i.e., COMMERCIAL POWER) IS DELIVERED TO THE UPGRADED SHELTER VIA UNDERGROUND CABLES

Before After

Equipped with back-up battery power and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)

THE PILOT SUCCESSFULLY CONSOLIDATED THE RADIO EQUIPMENT FROM MULTIPLE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES INTO A SINGLE TOWER AND SHELTER

The pilot yielded several best practices—

Maintain the continuity of a single point of contact (POC) for the duration of the job whenever possible

Consider site geography for scheduling and planning purposes

Develop processes for documenting key design decisions to ensure the traceability of requirements

Use a configuration control process to ensure all parties involved in the consolidation are aware of the design baseline and what changes are being made

Complete geotechnical survey for multiple locations at the site, and give results to the tower and shelter installer prior to issuing a purchase order

Identify all constraints that might be present at the site, discuss early on in the project, and make part of the request for proposals for the installer

Consider carefully the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system requirements relative to the weather conditions and elevation of the site

Develop an acceptance test checklist to ensure compliance with all requirements

MOVING FORWARD, THE CONSOLIDATION PILOT CAN BE LEVERAGED TO MEET THE DIVERSE COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS OF THE MONTANA COMMUNITY

The pilot reduces the overall Palisades Ridge electronic site footprint and improves the overall quality and reliability of the radio communications services provided

Local, state, and federal agencies within Carbon County are now able to communicate effectively

The pilot project establishes a process that can cost-effectively be repeated across the state of Montana

More detailed information about the Montana consolidation pilot can be found at www.publicsafetywins.gov

Region 25 – 700 MHz Region 25 – 700 MHz PlanningPlanning

Dan Hawkins,Chair

Region 25 700 MHz Planning Committee (RPC)

Region 25 – 700 MHz PlanningRegion 25 – 700 MHz Planning

• August 1998 – FCC designation of spectrum– Available no later than December 2006– Unused in Montana

• January 2001 – FCC adoption of standards– National Coordination Committee (NCC)– State interoperability executive committees– Wide and narrowband channels– Interoperability channels and standards

Region 25 – 700 MHz PlanningRegion 25 – 700 MHz Planning• December 2001 – State of Montana activities

– Licensure of State Channels (2.4 MHz)• Designation of Region 25 Planning Committee as executor

– Notice to FCC on Interoperability Channels (2.6 MHz)

• Designation of Region 25 Planning Committee as executor

• May 2002 – Convening Announced– 800 MHz Chair designated Jeff Brandt as convener– FCC Public Notice and mailing to over a thousand

parties

Region 25 – 700 MHz PlanningRegion 25 – 700 MHz Planning

• July 17, 2002 – Regional Planning Committee– Convened– Officers elected

• Dan Hawkins, Chairman

• Leo Dutton (Lewis & Clark Co.), Vice Chairman

• Jesse Gonzalez (City of Billings), Secretary-Treasurer

– Working subcommittee established– Preliminary by-laws adopted– Regional plan template examined

• August 5, 2003 - Planned RPC Meeting– Postponed upon MT Dept of Administration request

Region 25 – 700 MHz PlanningRegion 25 – 700 MHz Planning

• Reallocation of 4.9 GHz band– FCC Docket 00-32 - May 2, 2003

• 50 MHz of spectrum

• From federal government use, to Public Safety

• For fixed and mobile digital broadband use

– Channelization• Ten - 1 MHz channels

• Eight - 5 MHz channels

• Aggregation allowed to 20 MHz

Region 25 – 700 MHz PlanningRegion 25 – 700 MHz Planning

• Reallocation of 4.9 GHz band (cont.)– Licensing

• Primary Uses: Mobile, Fixed hotspot, temporary fixed

• Secondary Use: Permanent fixed point-to-point

• Eligible Licensees– Every public safety agency– For primary uses of the whole band– Covering entire jurisdiction

– 700 MHz RPC coordination for: • Incident management protocols

• Interference avoidance

• Interoperability

Region 25 – 700 MHz PlanningRegion 25 – 700 MHz Planning

• Project MESA– “An international partnership producing globally

applicable technical specifications for digital mobile broadband technology, aimed initially at the sectors of public safety and disaster response.”

• Formed in May 2000• Originally known as ‘APCO Project 34’

– Organizational Partnership• Open to standards development organizations• Currently: TIA and ETSI

– Public Safety Membership• Currently: APCO, NTIA, NIJ, FBI, and others

– www.projectmesa.org

Bridging the Digital DivideBridging the Digital Divide

Dr. Bill GillisDr. Bill GillisWSU Center for Bridging the WSU Center for Bridging the

Digital DivideDigital Divide

Northwest RegionalNorthwest RegionalE-SafetyE-Safety

OpportunityOpportunity

Promoting collaboration and data sharing to enhance emergency response, mitigation, and homeland security.

The Regional and National The Regional and National SignificanceSignificance

THE ISSUE:

How To Deal With Communications and InformationAbout Deadly, Unexpected Events

Individual: Car Crashes (Leading Killer of Americans Aged 5-29), Suicide Attempts

(Seattle Bridge Incident), Health Problems (Heart Attacks, Seizures, Strokes), Crime

Mass: Terrorist Attacks (Oklahoma City, World Trade Center, Pentagon), Shootings (Columbine), Severe Weather ( Flash Floods, Earthquakes), Forest Fires, Hazmat Spills

The Problem:The Problem: Emergency CommunicationsEmergency Communications

Are Not in the Information AgeAre Not in the Information AgeEmergency response communication still largely“voice-centric”

No statewide mechanism to capture data createdduring emergency events and share among multiple agencies and jurisdictions

Limited fusion of existing data sources (e.g. real time traffic data, weather information, emergency medical readiness) to support emergency response and homeland security

No comprehensive statewide directory or “address book” to share event information electronically among “need-to-know” parties

Integrated Emergency Communications

Incident Data

Federal/State/Local Agency

Voice

PSAP

HospitalERTrauma

Police Dept.

Traffic OperationsCenter

Voice Comm.Among Agencies

INCIDENT INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION

The Public

Tools:

Electronic Emergency Agency Registry

&

Event Mapping

Electronic directory of “need to know” parties supporting local emergency response decisions on data flow Web-based event map: allow multiple agencies to view and share incident data on an electronic map; cost effective and useful interoperability tool for multiple purposes

ComCARE is a non-profit Alliance of more than 85 organizations representing the full range of emergency response and management, automotive, citizens, communications, technology, and transportation.

Strategic E-Safety Focus

Emphasis on creation of open and interoperable systems creating shared data supporting public safety and homeland security

Advocate broadly accepted vision for telematics use in public safety-DEMAND CREATION

Sustainability through creation of market potential with private partners (ACN, Telematics providers, data integrators, others)

Benefits to Montana and Region

Enhance regional and interagency effectiveness in emergency response and mitigation through availability of shared data.

Facilitate development of new public safety enterprises enhancing emergency response and homeland security.

Improve response times saving lives.

Positioning Montana and Northwest as a national leader in applying technology to public safety and homeland security.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Bill Gillis, DirectorWSU Center to Bridge the Digital DividePO Box 646229Pullman WA 99164-6229509-335-7038Bgillis@wsu.edu

Thank you ComCARE for providing supporting graphics and materials for this presentation.

QuestionsQuestions??