Radio Communication Problems in 2005 Related to Narrow Banding, and Resulting NMAC Strategy Martin Maricle AK-Division of Forestry Originally presented By Dan Smith- NC Forestry

Fire Season 2005 Narrow Band Radio Communications Conflicts Fire fighter safety issues Increasing number of reports concerning communication issues through SAFENET and SAFECOM prompted the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group (NMAC) to charter a Fire and Aviation Safety Team (FAST) in August, 2005

Federal Mandate to Narrowband Restructure of Federal Radio Frequency Spectrum required federal agencies to transition to narrowband FM frequencies( to ) by January 1, State and local governments: 2013

NMAC Charters FAST FAST to validate and elaborate on problems and report Interviewed 70 sources Findings: -narrowband versus wideband conflicts -users incorrectly using radios -poorly maintained radios -federal agencies isolated from cooperators -unreliable communication systems requiring workarounds

Aviation Safety Technical Assistance Team (ASTAT) Aviation Safety Alert distribution almost simultaneous with FAST report Mixed narrowband and wideband frequencies aircraft on wideband volume much louder wideband to narrowband signal becomes choppy (inaudible at close range) wideband to narrowband repeater results in lock up

NMAC Assigns Area Command Team Area Command Team 4 (Rounsaville) 6 core team members of which 3 are state employees First time an Area Command Team was mobilized for a special assignment Delegated to produce long and short term solutions

Area Command Radio Communication Review Assignment Research fact finding Validated the problem and FAST report Produced Firefighter Safety Advisory for NMAC that was distributed August 24, 2005

Developed NMAC Group Strategic Plan for Wildland Fire Radio Communications 15 Action Items Short and long term Strategic Plan and Action Items approved and supported by NMAC Reports on USFS Fire and Aviation Management web site

Action Items Fire Season 2005 Field Training Interagency Communications Work Group Annual Electronic Equipment Inspection and Testing Protocol List of Narrowband compatible radios

Action Items Radio Problem Reporting System Annual Communications Refresher Radio Technical Support Distribution of Safety Alerts Workload analysis

Action Items continued Radio Management Hierarchy Coordination with Fire Departments State Forestry Survey Fireline Communications of the Future Standard Contract Language Incident Radio Coverage

What’s Going on Now ? What’s been implemented? Fire Season 2005 field training - coordinated with GACCS More information on web sites Implementation of NMAC Strategic Plan Implementation of 15 Action Items

Radio Narrowband Implementation Task Group Chartered 11/17/05 by National Fire and Aviation Executive Board and operates under it’s authority Implementation of short term recommendations identified by Area Command Team State reps are Jim Lundsted (Missouri) and Dave Dalrymple (Utah) Assigned issues that must be addressed prior to 2006 fire season

RNITG Objectives Develop training outline to improve community knowledge of narrowband Develop process for dissemination of information and feedback Develop 2 tier training program for communication techs and users

RNITG Objectives Determine status of radios used in dispatch to ensure correct configuration Develop and distribute a convention for the creation of frequency plans, ICS-205s, ICS- 220s and aviation resource orders that designate narrowband / wideband status of a frequency

Radio Communications Task Group October 2005 NWCG and NMAC made decision to charter The Radio Communications Task Group under the National Fire and Aviation Executive Board Address long term wildland fire communication issues Improve coordination of federal, tribal, state and local fire and aviation programs

Advisory role to NFAEB-monthly meetings Don Artley represents NASF USFS, BIA, BLM, Fish and Wildlife, NPS, NIICD, National IC/AC representative

National Task Force in D.C. National “high level “ task force being assembled in Washington D.C. to address interoperability issues Fire, LE, Homeland Security Result of Office of Inspector General Review of federal agency radio communication program, Assistant Secretary DOI review of NMAC Wildland Fire Communication Review

National Task Force in D.C. Interoperability issues during 2005 hurricane response Efforts to implement-plug in wildland fire communication issues elevate to higher level

What does all this mean to state Forestry agencies? Lessons learned as states transition to narrowband Serious operational issues Interoperability-analogue, digital, different bands, trunking systems, etc. National VHF Interoperability Frequencies Mitigation options

Funding Support for Transition to Narrowband Availability of special federal funds not reliable State Fire Assistance Volunteer Fire Assistance National Fire Plan Homeland Security FEMA All Risk

Radio Communication Problems in 2005 Related to Narrow Banding and Resulting NMAC Strategy Short term and long term issues Progress being made NMAC ensuring recommendations carried out and implemented

Task Forces / Work Groups Active Information available and under development that will be helpful to states Questions ????