First Annual W2i Digital Communities Best Practices Awards Wireless Accelerated Responder Network (WARN) Project Lead: Robert LeGrande II Date: September 2005 Organization: District of Columbia Gov. Country: United States Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) Web site:

Background Population –563,384 (2003 estimate) Geographic –68 square miles Economic –45,898 (Personal Income Per Capita In Constant [2000] Dollars) –Highest of all states Regulatory –Mayor –City Council Community –Diverse, Vibrant and Exciting IT readiness –Highest internet penetration (59.9%)

Project History Project History: –Project initiated in 2003 –Outgrowth of recently completed upgrade to public safety voice networks Broadband network to support data and video next logical step Voice sites designed to accommodate future need –Initiated by Suzanne Peck, District of Columbia CTO –Treated and funded as a standard city-wide telecom project –Required FCC experimental license Allayed concerns of interference to adjacent Maryland public television station –WARN network available to pilot users 1Q 2005

Mission & Objectives Mission statement: –Design, procure and implement a pilot wireless, city-wide broadband public safety network to support integrated data and video applications –Ensure that the selected network solution would also facilitate interoperability with neighboring jurisdictions and public safety organizations concentric to the District of Columbia Project Objectives: –municipal workforce productivity Increase first responder efficiency, safety and productivity Promote interoperability among public safety organizations within the District of Columbia –providing improved Services to Citizens Network to support advanced applications used to protect the citizens and property of the Nation’s Capitol –local Community Economic Development N/A in Phase I. Phase II will address the citizen/community development

Possible Solutions Available alternatives: –business models Originally planned as a multiple technology trial, budget limitations required selection of single (best value) solution –technology Flash OFDM 1xEVDO –applications Video (4 different variants) Access to existing PS databases GIS/CAD systems Internet access Existing (heretofore wireline connected) specialized applications –PROTECT –CapWIN And more as they come to our attention/ become available… Chosen alternative –Flash OFDM

Business Model Community outreach undertaken and role of various stakeholders in the process –OCTO provides WARN access, radio cards and drivers for end-user devices (PCs) –Public safety organizations use and evaluate the utility of WARN reporting observations and results District of Columbia: Police, Fire/Emergency Medical Agency, Emergency Management Agency, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Federal: US Park Police, US Secret Service, Federal Protective Service Other: Metro Transit Police Targeted users: –Current All public safety organization operating within the District of Columbia –Future Expansion of the program throughout the National Capital Region (18 Surrounding counties and cities) Partnerships: –Users are required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding document outlining responsibilities of all parties and limitations of the WARN system

Project Economics Cost structure: –Initial cost for 10 site network > 2.7 Mil. USD Includes all hardware, software, implementation and end user equipment costs –Annual operational cost of WARN > 100 k USD –Two expansion sites cost > 250 k USD Investment Sources/ Funding Sources –How is the project funded Public revenue (taxes) –Investment level 100% District of Columbia Revenue Source/ Return on Investment –Not Applicable (not a commercial network) –When fully operational R,O&M costs will be fully offset by move of District’s Wireless services from commercial to private network.

Applications Current applications –Public Safety Applications Including Video (several different systems) –MPEG 4 –Motion JPEG –H.264 GIS/CAD systems Access to existing PS databases Internet access Existing (heretofore wireline connected) specialized applications –PROTECT –CapWIN Future/ Potential applications –Any combination of Video Data Voice (VoIP) Interoperable voice (with legacy end-user equipment) voice –RoIP –Secure, wireless data interoperability between all system users

Network Schematic If possible provide your network schematic –Attached State the chosen/considered & why –technology provider Flarion –Flash OFDM is their product (1 of the 2 technologies considered) –Met (RFP) requirements and was lowest cost – systems integrators Motorola –Willingness to partner with Flarion –Previous experience with our voice network infrastructure –and service providers Not Applicable –Private network – best approach for public safety

Deployment Timeline: past, current & future –Project initiation 1Q03 –Network solutions proposed 3Q03 –10 Site network deployment 2H04 –Network available for pilot users 1Q05 –Two site expansion of WARN 3Q05 –Allocation of additional permanent PS spectrum 1H06 Deployment specifics- activities and processes –Technology research –RFI/RFP –Vendor selection –Implementation –Test and acceptance –Initial use by first responders –User feedback –Addition of more nodes Sustainability and Scalability of the project –WARN is scalable –Broadband wireless network cannot be sustained without additional public safety spectrum from Congress

Impact Analysis Actual impact –Used to deal with chemical spill at Cardozo High School –Used to protect the President at his second inauguration –Used support public safety during the State of the Union Address –Used to protect the public during the Fourth of July celebration on the Mall Impact compared to original goals –Distributed 150 of 200 radio cards –Additional cards requested –Demonstrated before Congress House demonstration 9/04 Senate demonstration 5/05 –Vocal support from pilot users DC Fire/Emergency Medical Agency U.S. Park Police –Added two additional network sites –Interest has exceeded original expectations

Lessons Learned & Next Steps Lessons Learned –Broadband applications – especially video - valued by first responders Users agree on the value added by WARN –Quality of Service necessary to keep users from overdriving the network –Many applications brought for our critique are not really ready for operational use –Applications must add value and be easy to use Because users are focused on protection of order, life and property… Operation of applications and end user devices must be intuitive –Standardization and Interoperability critical for future systems –Without additional radio frequency spectrum for public safety, first responders will not have what they need to better protect our citizens. Next Steps –Convince Congress to allocate additional spectrum for wireless broadband public safety use –Expand wireless broadband capabilities throughout the National Capitol Region