Current Projects

COML Type III Training - The Office of Emergency Communications offers several opportunities to take the All-Hazards Type III Communications Unit Leader (COML) training course (click link for upcoming dates). This course trains emergency responders on how to serve as radio communications unit leaders during all-hazards emergency operations

COMT Training - The Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) has completed the development of the All-Hazards Communications Technician (COMT) curriculum. This curriculum trains emergency responders on practices and procedures common to radio communication technicians during all-hazards emergency operations and will help communications technicians to work within the Incident Command System (ICS) organizational structure with standardized operational and technical procedures.

Emergency Data Exchange Language - The Emergency Data Exchange Language (EDXL) practitioner-driven messaging suite of standards is designed to facilitate emergency information sharing and data exchange across local, tribal, state, Federal and non-governmental emergency response and management disciplines.  These Extensible Markup Language (XML)-based standards enable the emergency response community to share data seamlessly and securely during an incident.     

Multi-Band Radio - The Multi-Band Radio project is demonstrating a radio technology that allows emergency responders to communicate with partner agencies regardless of the radio band on which they operate.  DHS is testing the equipment through a three-phase approach, which includes prototype laboratory testing and evaluation, short-term demonstrations, and long-term pilot testing.  Pilot testing began in Winter 2009 and is ongoing with multiple agencies across the Nation.

Project 25 - Project 25 (P25) is a standards development process for the design, manufacture, and evaluation of interoperable digital two-way wireless communications products created by and for public safety professionals.

Project 25 CAP - The Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program (P25 CAP) was established on the basis of requests from the United States Congress to ensure the aforementioned requirements are met.  P25 CAP is a voluntary system that provides a mechanism for P25 equipment suppliers to formally demonstrate their products' compliance with a key subset of requirements in the P25 standards. 

Video Quality in Public Safety - The Video Quality in Public Safety (VQiPS) - a collaborative effort of the Office for Interoperability and Compatability, the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, and the National Institute for Standards and Technology - is partnering with the public safety community to affect change across the range of public safety video communications. The VQiPs Working Group is arming consumers with the tools needed to purchase and employ the right video systems for their needs.