Avagene Moore: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum! On behalf of the EIIP, Amy and I are pleased to see each of you here today. Avagene Moore: Our session today is a discussion about Project SAFECOM, one of the Federal Government's 24 e-gov initiatives. (Project SAFECOM = Wireless Public SAFEty Interoperable COMmunications Program) Avagene Moore: The first part of our session will be an overview by our guest speaker. Afterwards, we will invite your questions. I will provide further instructions just before we begin the Q&A section but you may wish to jot your questions down as we go through the presentation. Avagene Moore: Please do not send Direct / Private Messages to either the speaker or the moderator during the session. If you have a problem, you can direct your Direct Message to Amy Sebring. Avagene Moore: We are pleased to introduce our guest today, Susan Moore, SAFECOM Program Manager for FEMA, the managing federal partner. susan.moore: Hi. I am happy to have the opportunity to share a little information about SAFECOM with you. Avagene Moore: Ms. Moore moved to FEMA effective October 1, 2002 from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) headquarters where she specialized in Telecommunications policy for the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Avagene Moore: She has 20 years experience in information technology and telecommunications management in private industry as well as the Federal Government. Please see Ms. Moore's bio on the EIIP Virtual Forum homepage after the presentation. Avagene Moore: PLease help me welcome our speaker, Susan Moore. We now turn the floor over to you, Susan. susan.moore: SAFECOM is one of the President's top three electronic government initiatives created to accelerate the convergent integration of wireless communications networks used by public safety organizations across all levels of government (state, local, and federal). susan.moore: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the managing partner for the SAFECOM program. Contributing partners include the Departments of Justice, Treasury, Agriculture and Defense. susan.moore: Customers include federal, state, tribal and local agencies working as partners to address the difficulties associated with public safety radio network incompatibilities, ... susan.moore: The scope is broad. The customer base includes over 44,000 state and local public safety agencies and organizations [National Institute of Justice, AGILE]. susan.moore: BACKGROUND susan.moore: Public safety personnel need interoperable wireless communication tools while mobile in order to provide effective and coordinated responses to incidents and large-scale events. susan.moore: Recent data indicates that most public safety agencies have limited confidence in their ability to perform in regional response situations requiring mutual aid (54 percent) or task force communications interoperability (66 percent). susan.moore: While large-scale events dramatically illustrate the need for regional communications interoperability, routine public safety operations that occur daily can also be severely hampered by a lack of interoperability. susan.moore: However, even during these routine public safety incidents, more than a third of public safety agencies (36 percent) have limited confidence in their ability to interoperate. susan.moore: Key issues that hamper public safety wireless communications today include: susan.moore: * Antiquated systems and a general lack of available funding for system integration. susan.moore: * A lack of open standards and the use of proprietary equipment that limits communications among differing systems. susan.moore: * Incompatible frequency assignments and ... susan.moore: * A need for new operational constructs that support multi-agency response and resource sharing. susan.moore: In short, the Nation is heavily invested in existing infrastructure that is largely incompatible. susan.moore: THE SAFECOM VISION susan.moore: Federal, state, and local agencies will continue to acquire, develop, operate and maintain their own networks as directed by their individual oversight bodies and as funding permits. susan.moore: No one organization can begin to address the individual needs of over 44,000 organizations. susan.moore: Through the combined efforts of stakeholders and representative organizations, a national program can establish a framework for evaluating and recommending 'best of breed' integration technologies for implementation by agencies. susan.moore: SAFECOM deliverables include recommended standards, solution models and grants for integrating disparate networks. susan.moore: SAFECOM's role is to provide public safety agencies with the knowledge, leadership and guidance needed to help them achieve short-term interoperability and long-term compatibility. susan.moore: This ends my presentation. Are there any questions? Avagene Moore: Thank you for that overview, Susan. I am sure our audience has many questions for you. ... Avagene Moore: Our protocol for audience questions is to enter a question mark ? to indicate you wish to ask a question or make a comment. Avagene Moore: Then go ahead and compose your question to have it ready, but do NOT hit your Enter key or click on the Send button until you are recognized by name. Avagene Moore: We will take questions in the order the question marks are sent to the screen. We are ready to begin now. Please input your ? if you wish to ask a question. Rick Tobin: ? Roman Kaluta: ? Pam Roussel: ? Avagene Moore: Rick, please submit your question as soon as you have it composed. Rick Tobin: Are you familiar with the EPIC System in Singapore, and have you assessed it as a viable model? Milford OEM: ? Elden Laffoon: ? susan.moore: Rick. We have not looked specifically at EPIC. Where can we find an overview? Avagene Moore: Rick, can you provide Susan with that info offline? Rick Tobin: I would recommend the Central Government of Singapore. Also, Art Botterell, known to many here, is working on it. Avagene Moore: Roman, your question, please Roman Kaluta: Throughout the nation our public safety partners are putting together plans to integrate disparate radio systems but are lacking funding. Is there any time table as to when grants will be available to assist our public safety agencies in the intergration of proven solutions? Rick Tobin: Yes, I'll give her Art's info separately. susan.moore: Thank you Rick. Hi, Roman Roman Kaluta: Hello Avagene Moore: While Susan is replying, please input your ? if you have a question or comment. susan.moore: On the grants issue. SAFECOM has a work package as part of our Program Management Plan specifically focused on grants ...working directly with the federal grant making bodies... Jeff McClaran: ? Mark Starin: ? susan.moore: SAFECOM does not recieve grants money directly. We must work with the individual grant organizations according to their schedules. Avagene Moore: Pam Roussel, your next, please. Pam Roussel: My question is two-fold. Specifically what grants are available for short-term interoperability and long term compatibility? AND Are there grants available for construction of buildings for housing OEPs with other governmental facilties? susan.moore: Pam. Thanks for your question... susan.moore: We are working with individual grant making bodies to encourage them to include interoperability equipment and services. The timing on releasing grants varies, depending on which grant making orgranization you are interested in working with... Roman Kaluta: ? susan.moore: SAFECOM is focused specifically on solutions that allow first responders to communicate with one another during emergency operations. We are not focused on facilities construction. Avagene Moore: Milford OEM, please. Milford OEM: Could you please define "Wireless" as it pertains to SAFECOM (radio, cell phones, MDT's, etc.)? AND, Is SAFECOM a government, private, or joint entity? susan.moore: Wireless refers to transmissions using spectrum, regardless of the device... susan.moore: SAFECOM is one of the President's Electronic Government, Federal Initiatives... susan.moore: SAFECOM recieves funding for program management operations from participating Federal partners. Avagene Moore: Elden, your question, please. steve cochrane: ? Elden Laffoon: Has SAFECOM considered integrating the Amateur Radio Service's ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) into their national stategy? All are trained to handle communications traffic during disasters. susan.moore: Elden, thanks for your question... Amy Sebring: ? Avagene Moore: (Others with questions, please input your ? now.) Mark Starin: What can SAFECOM and other jurisdictions recommend regarding frequencies that link various dispatch centers, eoc's, and response agencies? David Gilliam: ? Mark Starin: Sorry...jumped the gun Avagene Moore: Hang on, Mark. Please compose again if you will. susan.moore: Today, SAFECOM is focusing limited resources specifically on public safety radio network connectivity. Avagene Moore: Jeff McClaren, you are next. Jeff McClaran: What are your thoughts on satellite phones, especially since they have dropped significantly in price? susan.moore: Satellite is used by public safety agencies for a number of different operations. For some requirements, especially those where public safety radio network coverage is an issue...satellite may be the best solution. Mark Starin: ? Avagene Moore: Mark, repeat your question, please. susan.moore: Do we have a question in the queque? Avagene Moore: Susan, can you still see Mark's question at the top of your screen? susan.moore: Yes. Mark Starin: I had a follow-up but I'll standby susan.moore: Mark... Mark Starin: Ma'am Peter Casals: ? susan.moore: I'm not clear on your question. Typically dispatch centers link frequencies if they have the right capability. Avagene Moore: Mark do you wish to clarify in some way? Mark Starin: For example, 155.475 MHz is used quite a bit here in NH but with mountainous terrain low band works somewhat better. Any work on low band frequencies? Mark Starin: i.e., a low band equivalent to 155.475 MHz susan.moore: Yes. SAFECOM is interested in linking UHF and VHF bands...what ever public safety agencies use ... susan.moore: Does that answer your question? Mark Starin: Yes ma'am. Thanks. NHOEM is working on crossband repeaters so that should help. Much obliged. Avagene Moore: Roman, you have another question, sir? Please input to the screen. Roman Kaluta: In my travels, previously with the NIJ AGILE Program and now with JPS, the whereabouts for the referenced 3.5 billion for state/local/federal first responders and communications interoperability assistance/equipment through FEMA is a buring question. I understand SAFECOM's investigation into recommended solutions is ongoing and that a number of proven solutions are now recommended. However the underlying question remains when will sometype of support be made available to address the communicat Roman Kaluta: communications needs susan.moore: Give me a minute to read this, Roman... Roman Kaluta: Is there any time line for the funding or a report on recommended solutions. Avagene Moore: Please break up long questions or comments, folks. The screen can't handle it. susan.moore: Roman, I wish I had the answer. .. susan.moore: SAFECOM does not hold the purse strings on that funding. Avagene Moore: Steve Cochran, please. steve cochrane: though technology is always an issue, I have found at the local, state and federal level that the bigest issue is planning and training. For some reason people fail to plan adequetly for intigration of other com systems into their network and never train on how to manage the network when it is intigrated during an incident or exercise. Is Safecom addressing these issues as well? susan.moore: All we can do, is encourage the grant making bodies that recieve it to support our efforts. susan.moore: Thank you Steve!!! susan.moore: SAFECOM is about more than integrating technology... susan.moore: We are planning "convergent integration" which includes many of the issues you have identified. susan.moore: Steve... steve cochrane: Planning and training interoperability is realy my question susan.moore: SAFECOM plans to encourage grant makers to tie grants to training, preparation, support, etc. of interoperable equipment. Avagene Moore: Amy Sebring, please. Amy Sebring: When you refer to grant-making bodies, to whom are you referring? susan.moore: ONP, ODP, COPS, BJA, etc... susan.moore: There are many more, but I don't have the list in front of me. Avagene Moore: David Gilliam, please. Amy Sebring: Thanks, wanted to clarify for the record. Most of these are moving to Dept. of Homeland Defense. David Gilliam: When new opportunities arise how does SAFECOM get the word out to the 44,000 stakeholders? Roman Kaluta: ? susan.moore: What question am I answering next? susan.moore: David... Avagene Moore: David's. Milford OEM: ? susan.moore: Outreach is one of SAFECOM's biggest challenges... susan.moore: We are developing an outreach plan... Isabel McCurdy: ? susan.moore: We are interested in any suggestions you or others may have regarding communications channels. Avagene Moore: Mark Starin, do you have another question for Susan? We have time for a few more questions. Please input your ? now. Mark Starin: ? Avagene Moore: Go ahead, Mark. I had you in the line. susan.moore: Avagene. I only have time for one or two more. Mark Starin: Roger....any suggestions on linking multiple responders other than crossband repeaters? Sam Genovese: ? susan.moore: Mark... susan.moore: SAFECOM has a short term task where multiple responders and crossband repeaters are being evaluated for their interoperability effectiveness. Avagene Moore: Peter Casals, please. We will move as quickly as we can to accommodate Suan's schedule. Peter Casals: Is SAFECOM working towards establishing multiple region specific integrated networks ...or a single national standard for public safety wireless communication? susan.moore: Peter... susan.moore: We will begin the process of gathering requirements for an integrated architecture ... susan.moore: that will begin shortly after our move to the Department of Homeland Security... susan.moore: We will be looking for input from the practitioner community across jurisdictions and disciplines throughout the country. Avagene Moore: Roman has a comment for everyone's benefit - please input, Roman. Roman Kaluta: NIJ - AGILE has an interoperability test bed at the Alexandria Police Dept. with proven technology, policies/procedures, mou's and agreements. The system is up and running and info is available through NIJ. Avagene Moore: Milford, OEM. Please. susan.moore: Avagene... Avagene Moore: Yes. Milford OEM: Who identify's the stakeholders? And how do we get added to the list? susan.moore: Can I respond to Roman's comment? Avagene Moore: Sure. susan.moore: SAFECOM has visited the Alexandria Police Department, and they are doing great things... susan.moore: We believe that they have a great model. susan.moore: Milford... susan.moore: Our requirements focus is on the customers...the first responders... susan.moore: We have many activities that requires stakeholder input as well. Avagene Moore: Isabel, please. (Only one more question after this one.) Isabel McCurdy: What is ONP, ODP, COPS, BJA? susan.moore: Please send me your contact information and a little background about your interests. susan.moore: Isabel... Milford OEM: Will do Avagene Moore: We can clarify in the transcript. susan.moore: I am sorry. I have another meeting. Avagene Moore: Can you take Sam's question? Only one more. Sam Genovese: Will the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) play any role, given the reponsibilities of the new Homeland Defense Department? susan.moore: I'd like to thank everyone once again for their interest. Avagene Moore: Can you give a quick response, Susan? Avagene Moore: I think Susan may have left her desktop, sorry about that. ... Avagene Moore: We are at the close of our hour today. If you will indulge me, I would like to announce our new EIIP Partners this month. ... Avagene Moore: ImageCat, Inc. with EIIP POC, David Kehrlein, Vice President GIS Operation, Web site is http://www.imagecatinc.com . David is here today; good to see you, David. ... Avagene Moore: Digital Forensics and Emergency Preparedness Institute (DFEPI) at the University of Texas at Dallas, EIIP POC James C Staves, Web site http://www.utdallas.edu/research/dfepi/ . ... Avagene Moore: Anyone interested in being a formal Partner of the EIIP, please see http://www.emforum.org/partners/criteria.htm . Avagene Moore: We will have the transcript of today's session posted by late afternoon. Please look for it then. Avagene Moore: Thanks to everyone for participating today - you have been a great audience - and ... Avagene Moore: Please help us thank Susan for her presentation today. Susan, you did a great job! Thank Ashley Baker as well - she assisted Susan today. Avagene Moore: The EIIP Virtual Forum is adjourned!