National Public Safety Telecommunications Council Public Safety Communications Summit John Powell, Chair National Public Safety Telecommunications Council Interoperability Committee and SDR Forum Board of Directors

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 2 Presentation Overview Develop and promote statewide plans. Solutions that deliver network and application broadband interoperability. Interoperability between different data systems of various speeds, broadband and wideband. The importance of standards. Where does SDR and CR fit in?

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 3 What is Interoperability? The ability to talk to who you need to talk to when you need to talk to them (data and voice, realtime). As authorized NOT the ability to talk with everyone all of the time!

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 4 Statewide Planning Statewide Communications Interoperability Plans (SCIPs) –Required by DHS per 2006 SHSGP Grant Guidance. –Required by DOC for PSIC Grants. –Filing deadline 3 Dec 2007 All 57 States & Territories met deadline. –Plans were reviewed by peers from all levels of government. –All SCIPS have now been approved. –About 2/3rds of states and territories have to complete work on PSIC IJs.

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 5 Statewide Planning “Statewide” means that there must be practitioner input and buy-in from all levels of government in each state. SCIPS are strategic in nature. Promotion of advanced, but stable, technologies encouraged for PSIC grants. Identified Points of Contact within states/territories. –State Interoperability Coordinator

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 6 New SAFECOM Continuum Updated SAFECOM Continuum is in final review by DHS Adds data elements to technology lane Makes minor changes to other lanes –Recognizes importance of SCIPs –Encourages multiple exercises Removes concept of “best” always being to the far right.

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. Updated Continuum

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 8 Broadband Interoperability Critical to interoperability is the selection of a single nationwide standard –Technology trends point to LTE. Devices must be able to operate in absence of a network –Ad hoc networks? –Multimode? Important security issues –Authentication –Certificates (validated with/without network availability.

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 9 Broadband Interoperability The network, in whatever form it eventually takes, is just the pipe. –True for all IP-based systems –Critical for public safety is “hardening” Priority, Restorability, Survivability –Quality of service must be provided Dynamic and instantaneous Depends on incident and application(s). Applications must also be interoperable if there is a desire to share information.

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 10 Application Interoperability Compatible data structures –XML-based Appropriate authorizations and certificates –Federated identity system –Who establishes and maintains? –What happens where there is no network? Compatible security methodologies –Encryption

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 11 Broadband and Wideband Interoperability Requirement for application compatibility, authorizations and certificates, and compatible security methodology remains unchanged. Interconnection of networks will require an IP-based hub (gateway) to interconnect different types of networks. “Direct mode” off-network will require a common waveform –May be a separate/distinct mode.

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 12 The Importance of Standards A common standard ensures interoperability –Essential for digital platforms –Requires conformance testing of critical features and functions. Standard must be supported both on the device and network sides –With over 60,000 individual agencies, don’t expect help to come to your area and work with “your standard” if it is not “the standard.”

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 13 The Importance of Standards For FCC acceptance as a requirement, standards must be ANSI certified –Example: 700 MHz voice interoperability channels. Many different standards exist, but that doesn’t mean they are compatible –Example: voice codecs “IP” doesn’t ensure interoperability!

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 14 Where Does SDR and CR Fit Into This Equation? Software Defined Radio (SDR) is an enabler for Cognitive Radio (CR), but not a requirement for it. SDR allows a device to be built to support multiple “waveforms” –A waveform includes the modulation and air protocols that support a technology platform. –Generally less expensive if mass produced. –Upgradability to future features and functions, and new waveforms.

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 15 Where Does SDR and CR Fit Into This Equation? SDR platforms are entering the public safety voice market –Harris 30/132 – 800 MHz product based on AN/PRC-152 –Thales 132 – 800 MHz Liberty Critical need is for manufacturers to agree to cross-license legacy waveforms to other manufacturers. Ideal interoperability device is an all-mode, all-band SDR radio carried on the responders hip!

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 16 Presentation Overview Develop and promote state plans Investigate, report on, and propose solutions that deliver network and application broadband interoperability Interoperability between different data systems of various speeds, broadband and wideband The importance of standards Where does SDR fit in?

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 17 Questions? Contact information John Powell