Office of Emergency Communications

1. Office of Emergency Communications Leveraging State and Local Capabilities Through the Federal Partnership for Interoperable Communications Texas Radio Coalition April 14, 2008

2. Current Topic OEC Overview FPIC Overview Shared Infrastructure Activities

3. Title XVIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended, established the Office of Emergency Communications Other Title XVIII mandates IWN Non-RDT&E Office of Emergency Communications 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. The National Communications Capabilities Report provides a “Snapshot” of Interoperability Nationwide STEP 1 Develop Capabilities Assessment Framework STEP 5 Review and Coordinate the Assessment STEP 2 Leverage Existing Emergency Communications Documentation STEP 4 Produce Findings and Recommendations STEP 3 Conduct Interviews to Collect Additional Data • 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Current Topic OEC Overview FPIC Overview Shared Infrastructure Activities

10. 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 1990 Federal Agencies Met Informally 1994 FLEWUG Established 1998 PSWN Formed under FLEWUG Direction 2002 FPIC Formed as an Advisor to SAFECOM 2007 FPIC Operates under DHS OEC Sponsorship

11. 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)

12. 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

13. 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

14. The FPIC membership consists of 44 Federal entities representing more than 200 participants* * State and local agencies participate as advisory members

15. Current Topic OEC Overview FPIC Overview Shared Infrastructure Activities

16. OEC improves interoperability assurance by working with FPIC to coordinate the integration of Federal users onto Statewide systems Advisory Members to FPIC Federal Representative on State Council Current OEC Initiatives Planned OEC Initiatives

17. 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

18. 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

19. WyoLink and Federal Agency Comparative Coverage

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. For additional information on OEC or to join the FPIC, please contact— Jim Downes Division Chief, OEC Chair, FPIC 703.235.5069 james.downes@dhs.gov Don Ashley Vice Chair, FPIC 202.598.2045 donald.ashley@tigta.treas.gov Jeanette Manfra OEC Program Support 703.235.5372 jeanette.manfra@associates.dhs.gov