Progress Continues To Decrease Tech Interoperability Challenges For Government Agencies, First Responders
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
Federal and local agencies and first responders face the task of carrying out their missions while also negotiating serious challenges raised by limited interoperability and compatibility of video surveillance systems, according to Security InfoWatch. These challenges can result in unnecessary costs, lost productivity, and security vulnerabilities.
One effort to overcome such interoperability barriers was the creation of a new partnership between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) and First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). First responders’ ability to communicate during a disaster will be supported by the nation’s first interoperable public safety broadband network, according to Fed Tech Magazine.
As Business Solutions Magazine reported, FirstNet spokesman Ryan Oremland called it “the Internet for public safety.” And Oremland explains, “With federal coordination, we’ve been careful not to create something that already exists. Instead of building everything, we’re leveraging.”
The Federal Protective Service (FPS) is the federal agency charged with protecting and delivering integrated law enforcement and protection for more than 9,600 facilities across the country. There are roughly 200 field offices and 11 mega centers, located in 11 regions with regional headquarters in metropolitan areas nationwide, responsible for responding to over 534,000 calls a year for service for law enforcement and public safety.
The FPS recognized the serious system deficiencies and challenges and understood the best strategy for transmitting video to remote Internet connected data centers is in the cloud. Security Info Watch reports the result is the integrated solution known as Credentialed High Assurance Video Encryption (CHAVE), a video encryption model technology that can be introduced into pre- and post-manufactured products.
Another initiative implemented to aid first responders is the Radio Internet Protocol Communications Module (RIC-M). Used by local, state and federal responders, RIC-M is a low-cost, external interface device that connects RF system base stations, consoles and other RF equipment — regardless of brand — over an IP network. RIC-M converts from a commonly used V.24 serial communications protocol to VoIP. Both encrypted and unencrypted Project 25 (P25) digital communications are supported, and it can also operate with analog communication equipment.
This interoperability solution developed by the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has the potential to save the first responder community millions of dollars, according to Security Magazine.
Clearly, there is a need among your federal, state, and local clients to develop greater tools to ensure efficient and effective interoperability that allows them to fulfill their agencies’ missions and guarantee public safety.