Below are a few of the initiatives that SAFECOM has been responsible for in addition to a description of current working groups supported by the Office of Emergency Communications and SAFECOM.
Interoperability Continuum
The Interoperability Continuum is a tool designed to help the emergency response community and Federal, State, local, and tribal policymakers address critical elements for success as they plan and implement interoperability solutions. These elements include governance, standard operating procedures, technology, training and exercises, and use of interoperable communications.
Working Groups
SAFECOM and OEC work together to host a number of working groups. Currently the following working groups are underway:
10-Year Anniversary of 9/11 Working Group: The purpose of the 10 Year Anniversary of 9/11 Working Group is to partner with OEC in reflecting on the accomplishments made in improving emergency communications. To honor efforts and highlight the advancements made in interoperable communications, the working group is working on two projects: “The Public Safety Interoperability Timeline” and “The Story”.
The purpose of the “Public Safety Interoperability Timeline” is to capture and illustrate the thousands of meaningful milestones State, local, and tribal emergency response stakeholders have worked diligently to achieve. Members of the public, press, congressional staff, etc. can access “The Public Safety Interoperability Timeline” to get a glimpse into the reality of strengthening interoperability. Stakeholders are encouraged to visit this timeline to document their efforts.
The link to the timeline is: http://www.dipity.com/timeline/Public-Safety-Interoperability-Timeline/.
The second project, “The Story”, is a narrative that traces the most significant events that have led to improved emergency communications. The working group will provide input in OEC’s creation of “The Story’s” to ensure that the end user's voice is heard. The most meaningful milestones and parts of the story that resonate the clearest come directly from the users – stakeholder input is greatly appreciated! For questions and all media request, please contact: OECOutreach@HQ.DHS.GOV.
Narrowbanding Working Group: The purpose of the Narrowbanding Working Group is to target opportunities for SAFECOM and OEC to partner with other organizations such as the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase nationwide awareness and compliance of the narrowbanding deadline.
Public Safety Communications Evolution (PSCE) Working Group: The purpose of the PSCE Working Group, comprised of SAFECOM and National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators members, is to develop a graphic and educational brochure to help properly explain the evolution of emergency communications and how traditional land mobile radio communications used today can converge with wireless broadband in the future if specific requirements are met. This brochure will help educate the public safety community and elected and appointed officials about the future of emergency communications.
Statewide Communications Interoperability Planning (SCIP) Methodology
SAFECOM partnered with the Commonwealth of Virginia to develop a strategic plan for improving statewide interoperable communications with support from the National Institute of Justice. Based on the lessons learned from the Commonwealth of Virginia's planning process, SAFECOM released the Statewide Communication Interoperability Planning (SCIP) Methodology for integrating practitioner input into a successful statewide strategic plan. The SCIP Methodology serves as one approach for States to consider as they initiate statewide communications planning efforts. Since April 2008, all 56 States and territories have approved SCIPs and are working to implement their own strategic initiatives.
The SCIP Methodology is also available in the Find it Fast section of this website.
National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP)
In 2008, OEC developed the NECP—the Nation's first strategic plan to help drive measurable improvements in the areas of interoperability, operability, and continuity of communications for emergency responders. It was developed in cooperation with more than 150 emergency communications leaders, at all levels of government and within the private sector; this collaboration reflects the needs and requirements of the Federal, State, local, and tribal emergency response communities. Just prior to that effort, ERC Practitioner Action Teams developed guiding principles and drafted initiatives for nationwide planning efforts in the winter of 2007. Created in the spring of 2008, an EC/ERC NECP Working Group provided practitioner input during the development of the NECP.
When the NECP was submitted to Congress in 2008, it focused on traditional emergency communications issues. OEC is currently updating the NECP to both build upon the objectives of the first NECP and address emerging technologies. The Addendum is driven by the congressional directive to periodically update the NECP and the rapidly changing emergency communications environment. Updating the NECP is a collective effort, driven by nationwide emergency response stakeholders. The NECP Addendum will create an integrated emergency communications strategy for the Federal, State, local, and tribal emergency response community and the citizens they serve.
Similar to the first version of the NECP, OEC is coordinating with SAFECOM members to ensure the Addendum represents the needs of Federal, State, local, and tribal emergency responders, and incorporates private sector knowledge and expertise. A working group was formed in 2010 to collect stakeholder input, and enhance partnerships with stakeholders involved in the implementation of the NECP.
Public Safety Statement of Requirements (SoR) for Communications and Interoperability
SAFECOM released the first-ever Public Safety Statement of Requirements (SoR) for Communications and Interoperability in April 2004. This statement defines future operational and functional requirements for crucial voice and data communications in day-to-day, task force, and mutual aid operations. These requirements help drive the identification of key interface standards. They also drive the development of technologies that meet emergency response requirements. The National Institute of Justice’s CommTech Program (formerly AGILE) partnered with SAFECOM in formulating and releasing the requirements.
With the SoR, the Nation’s 60,000 emergency response agencies – for the first time – have a document that serves as a first step toward establishing base-level communications and interoperability standards for all emergency response agencies. The SoR helps the emergency response community convey a shared and vetted vision that ultimately will help private industry better align research and development efforts with critical interoperable communication needs.
Version 1.0 is available here for download.
Public Safety Architecture Framework
Following the development of the SoR, SAFECOM created the Public Safety Architecture Framework (PSAF) with input from public safety practitioners and government organizations. The PSAF comprises the first national effort to help emergency response agencies compare existing communications systems and identify system gaps and points of interoperability. Federal, State, local, and tribal emergency response agencies can use the PSAF to analyze their current systems and determine what is necessary to achieve interoperability with other systems and agencies.
SAFECOM Recommended Guidance for Federal Grant Programs
The Office of Emergency Communications (OEC), in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC) and the SAFECOM Executive Committee, develops the annual SAFECOM Guidance for Federal Grant Programs. The SAFECOM Guidance is driven by stakeholder needs and input, and has served as a valuable resource for grantees preparing grant applications.
First developed in 2003, the SAFECOM Recommended Guidance for Federal Grant Programs help coordinate the way in which Federal grant funds for interoperable communications are allocated and spent. The Guidance provides information on emergency communications-specific activities and allowable costs funded under most federal emergency communications grants, as well as best practices which promote the planning and coordination of emergency communication projects. The Guidance also contains information and resources for grantees on technical standards that promote greater interoperability nationwide.
The EC/ERC provided input to the FY 2009 SAFECOM Recommended Guidance for Federal Grant Programs. In particular, the SAFECOM EC/ERC provided input to the FY 2009 Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP) in the fall of 2008. The purpose of the IECGP is to help local governments, tribal communities, and States implement interoperability initiatives that align with the goals and milestones of the NECP and Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans (SCIPs).
Click here for the FY 2010 SAFECOM Guidance for Federal Grant Programs.