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Upgrading First Responder Communications in Vermont
The Vermont Communications (VCOMM) Board, an effort of the state's Department of Public Safety, is hoping to make it easier for emergency responders in Vermont to communicate with each other. The state has applied for DHS funding to purchase radio interoperability gear.
Kelly Sullivan, "Vt. emergency communication improves," Rutland (Vt.) Herald, 30 April 2006
D.C. Public Safety Network Picked for NTIA Study
The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has announced it has selected a Washington, D.C. public safety wireless network to evaluate its effectiveness in sharing the radio spectrum with federal, state and local governments during emergencies. The Wireless Accelerated Responder Network (WARN), an interoperable, city-wide, broadband public safety network, provides broadband tools for city wide remote surveillance, chemical and biological detection and several other emergency related services.
"NTIA Selects DC Public Safety Network to Monitor Effectiveness in Sharing Radio Spectrum with Federal, State and Local Government Users," NTIA press release, 25 April 2006, online at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2006/publicsafety_042506.htm
Alabama Program Improves Information Sharing
Alabama's Secure Homeland Access and Reporting Environment (SHARE) program gives local police and sheriffs a way to report suspicious activity into a single database that will help federal officials connect seemingly random events and track a potential terrorist threat. The computer-based reporting system was built by state employees with a 2004 grant of $990,000 from the Department of Homeland Security.
Mary Orndorff, "State anti-terrorism program touted in capital," Birmingham (Ala.) News, 27 April 2006: 3A
U.S. House Hearing on Interoperable Communications
The U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, Emergency Preparedness, Science, and Technology Subcommittee held a hearing on April 25 devoted to "The State of Interoperable Communications." Witnesses at the hearing included federal as well as state and local government officials. Prepared testimony is available by Tracy A. Henke and David Boyd from DHS, as well as that of the other witnesses.
"The State of Interoperable Communications: Perspectives on Federal Coordination of Grants, Standards, and Technology," U.S. House Homeland Security Committee hearing, 25 April 2006, online at http://hsc.house.gov/testimony1.cfm
Leading the Indiana Fusion Center
Monte McKee, a veteran Indiana state trooper, has been named to head the new Indiana Intelligence Fusion Center, designed by state Executive Order 06-04 to coordinate intelligence among the state's police agencies.
Lesley Stedman Weidenbener, "State trooper to head state intelligence-sharing center," The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.), 28 April 2006: 2B
Dallas Police Upgrading Cruisers
The Dallas, Texas Police Department has announced the purchase of more than 500 state-of-the-art digital video recording and in-car laptop computer systems to improve officer safety. The purchase is being made with a combination of city funds and $3.2 million of the three-year $15 million public safety grant awarded to the department by the W.W.Caruth Jr. Foundation Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas.
Tanya Eiserer, “Police cars ready for high-tech upgrade Dallas: Department to add state-of-the-art cameras, computers,” Dallas (Texas) Morning News, 28 April 2006: B9
New Radios for Chicago First Responders
A no-bid $22 million digital radio system will enable Chicago's Fire and Police first responders to communicate directly with each other over the same hand-held radios instead of relying on "console patching" by 911 center dispatchers. Federal homeland security funding is being sought for the new radio system.
Fran Spielman, "New digital radios to link city's first responders: Communication upgrade aims to prevent repeat of 2003 Loop blaze," The Chicago Sun-Times, 2 May 2006: 16
