Interoperability News

New System has Few Hiccups 

September 18, 2008

2The Advocate.com

By Michelle Millhollon

URL: http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/28591144.html?index=1&c=y

Richard Bezet's wife, Linda, was standing in the doorway of their Park Boulevard home when a large oak tree fell on it during Hurricane Gustav. The Bezets, of Baton Rouge, were told that the home they have spent eight years restoring will have to be torn down because of the extensive damage.

 

The communication system the state set up for hurricane responders after the debacle in Katrina had hiccups in Gustav and Ike.

 

Though not as widespread as in the 2005 storm, some local law enforcement authorities and other first responders still had difficulty talking to each other outside their immediate areas, particularly in the hardest hit parts of Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Cameron and Lafourche parishes. A small percentage could not talk at all.

 

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Panel Gets Static on How to Develop First Responder System 

September 17, 2008

CongressDaily  

By Otto Kreisher

URL: http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20080917_1964.php

 A House Homeland Security subcommittee Tuesday heard widespread agreement on the need for a nationwide communications system that will allow local, state and national first-responders to share information swiftly and seamlessly with each other in an emergency. But the panel heard considerable disagreement on how to achieve that.

 

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DHS Will Test Multiband Radios

September 17, 2008

Federal Computer Week

By Alice Lipowicz

URL: http://www.fcw.com/online/news/153824-1.html

 

The Homeland Security Department will soon begin testing newly engineered multiband radios for first responders in New York City and other locations as part of its efforts to improve emergency communications, officials said.

 

Historically, firefighters, police and other first responders have used radios that operate on only one frequency or on different bands. The new radios, which will operate across different bands and in both digital and analog modes, will make it possible for them to communicate in cases where they need to work together.

 

DHS' Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and responder groups developed the requirements for the radios, which are being produced by several manufacturers.

 

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COML Training Schedule Available

September 16, 2008
Radio Resource Media Group

URL: http://www.rrmediagroup.com/newsArticle.cfm?news_id=3371

 The Communications Unit Leader (COML) training will be offered in several locations in coming weeks. The training plays a critical support role within the incident command system (ICS).

 

The COML is responsible for integrating communications and ensuring that operations are supported by communications. The COML must understand ICS and local response systems to support the efforts of the command team.

 

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Lautenberg, Menendez Announce More Than $1.4 Million to Improve Emergency Communications in New Jersey 

September 12, 2008

PolitickerNJ.com

URL: http://www.politickernj.com/paganm/23446/lautenberg-menendez-announce-more-14-million-improve-emergency-communications-new-jerse

NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded New Jersey more than $1.4 million in federal funds to improve its emergency communications.

 

This funding is part of the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP), a new federal program to help states plan and train to respond to natural disasters and acts of terrorism.  New Jersey will receive $1,443,315 for the first year of the IECGP, which was authorized after the implementation of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations.

 

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Louisville Metro receives $2.5 Million Grant for Emergency Communications 

September 12, 2008
Biz Journals

URL: http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2008/09/08/daily42.html

 Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government has received a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's FEMA Grant Programs Directorate.

The grant is part of $15.4 million award given to the state as part of the 2008 Public Safety Interoperable Communications Program.

 

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Byrd Pulls Down $260,000 for Interoperable Communications

September 11, 2008

The Register-Herald

URL: http://www.register-herald.com/local/local_story_255222638.html

 Using the 9/11 tragedy as a springboard, Sen. Robert C. Byrd disclosed a $260,000 outlay Thursday to implement West Virginia's interoperable emergency communications systems.

 Funded through the Department of Homeland Security, the grant is a new one provided across the nation and authorized in the 9/11 Act.

 

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Delays, Mistakes Plague 911 System

September 11, 2008

The Christian Science Monitor

By Patrik Jonsson

URL: http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0911/p03s01-usgn.html.com

Atlanta - Sloppy dispatchers protected by political patronage. Million-dollar software that crashes, putting dozens of emergency callers on hold. "Victims" who call 911 to complain about their Subway sandwich or their kid's refusal to go to school.