A report issued by the American Society of Civil Engineers External Review Panel cites communications as critical to avoiding another tragedy similar to that of Katrina (see CNN article).

Among the report's recommendations: designate one person to coordinate local, federal and state hurricane and flood protections and improve communication between all agencies.

Each and every report in the aftermath of recent national disasters has showcased the communications problems faced by first responders. After each disaster, elected officials and other policymakers renew their commitments for new funds, new programs, and new initiatives to resolve the communications crisis. And yet here we are, a year after Katrina and five years after 9/11, and emergency workers still can't effectively communicate.

It's not because the technology doesn't exist, it's because there is currently no effective mechanism to coordinate interoperability efforts. Some states and communities have made progress, but the lack of national strategy to coordinate these efforts and provide needed guidance stands as a major obstacle.

This country needs a national strategy to achieve interoperability now!

In the wake of the 2005 storm season, government at all levels committed to work together to address the root causes of the communications woes that plagued emergency response in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

But as the Associated Press is reporting, "Despite the patchwork measures taken to help avert a repeat of last year's debacle, action has remained scarce beyond the creation of more joint panels and task forces that, like their predecessors, have been bogged down by disagreement over how to do it, how to pay for it, and the frictions that typically arise whenever multiple arms of government 'work together.'"

For example, in January, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco established through executive order the Statewide Interoperable Communication System Executive Committee. The Committee is tasked with designing, administering and maintaining a "statewide shared voice, data, and imagery" communication system, and has a mandate to collaborate with municipal agencies.

But "that effort has been widely received as heavy-handed, dominated by the State Police and state homeland security office," and has left many local officials frustrated. In fact, when the FRC released its "Imminent Storm 2006" report in April, the Committee had yet to meet on account of turf tussles and political infighting.

Achieving effective and reliable communications is no easy task because it is so very complex, involving issues related to equipment, funding, planning, spectrum and standards. In short, both technical and human factors come into play. So what needs to happen?

1. The nation needs a national strategy for resolving the communications crisis. The FRC has called upon the President to establish a "target date" by which to achieve nationwide, seamless communications interoperability within the next decade. As an initial step, the White House should host a National Interoperability Summit to develop a roadmap for achieving interoperability.

2. The "Communications, Consumer's Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006" should be considered by the full Senate as soon as possible. Click here to read more about the funding and coordination that the legislation provides.

3. Finally, all involved in ensuring reliable and effective communications for first responders should take a cue from the Hurricane Katrina Independent Panel - "lose the egos." All those involved in developing and implementing a regional or statewide communications plan need to be willing to work together in the name of public safety.

In an August 16 press release, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it is seeking applications for the fiscal year 2006 (FY 2006) Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP).

CEDAP provides smaller communities and rural areas with technology and equipment, together with training and technical assistance, to help enhance first responder capabilities throughout the nation. CEDAP provides resources such as communications interoperability equipment, information sharing technology, chemical detection devices, sensors, personal protective equipment, and rescue tools and training in how to use the equipment, devices, and technology.

Eligible applicants include law enforcement agencies, fire, and other emergency responders who demonstrate in their application that the equipment will be used to improve their ability and capacity to respond to a major critical incident or improve their ability to work with other first responders.

With over, 5,400 organizations competing for one of 2,000 awards during FY 2005, CEDAP is highly competitive. To submit an application for an FY 2006 CEDAP award, applicants should visit www.rkb.mipt.org/.

The application period will close September 22, 2006.

A recent article in the National Journal summarizes a top homeland security official's presentation at the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Tracy Henke, who is the Department of Homeland Security's Assistant Secretary for Grants and Training (and who I had the pleasure of meeting and presenting with recently), noted that "[T]he deployment of... interoperable communications systems will require funding and coordination among state and local emergency responders."

The FRC has continuously advocated for adequate funding and increased collaboration and cooperation between the many levels of government so that first responders are able to more safely and effectively protect our communities. That is precisely why we are supporting Senate Bill 2686.

I wrote about the benefits of SB2686 in a previous blog, but it's worth outlining again the potential benefits to the emergency response/disaster recovery community.

The legislation allocates up to $1 billion in much-needed funds to first responders specifically for interoperable communications. The $1 billion is divided up into grants for interoperable planning and SAFECOM-approved equipment. Before becoming eligible to receive funds for interoperability equipment, states are required to develop statewide interoperability plans that detail how the money will be spent towards achieving statewide or regional interoperability solutions.

Public safety personnel across the country desperately need the funding and guidance contained in S. 2686, and the FRC urges the Senate to consider the legislation as quickly as possible.

CNN released the following article today, which touches on some of the communications challenges faced by first responders on September 11, 2001.

What the article fails to mention is that of the 343 firefighters that were killed in the line of duty that day, an estimated 120 of them died as a direct result of communications failures. The communications systems that the NYPD and FDNY used were not compatible, or interoperable, with one another. As a result, firefighters never received the NYPD's order, issued over police radios, to evacuate the crumbling towers.

Nearly 5 years after this tragic loss of life emergency responders are too often unable to effectively communicate with each other. Although important advances have been made by many states and localities, and even at the federal level, to address the problem, there remains no national strategy to solve the communications crisis.

The absence of a national strategy has resulted in disjointed efforts to solve the problem at all levels of government. This bottom-up approach is not working, leaving firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel throughout the country still unable to talk to one another because their communications systems are incompatible.

The FRC encourages all readers to take action by urging your elected officials to make resolution of the communications crisis a national priority. Send a letter to your representatives in Congress supporting the FRC's call to establish a "target date" by which to solve the communications crisis.

The "Communications, Consumer's Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006," introduced into the Senate by Sen. Stevens from Alaska, has received a lot of attention by those on either side of the "net neutrality" debate.

What hasn't received nearly as much attention are those provisions of the bill that would make important advancements towards achieving emergency communications interoperability.

If enacted into law, the legislation would, as early as October 2006, allocate up to $1 billion in much-needed funds to first responders specifically for interoperable communications. Currently, first responders will have to wait until 2008 for the funding, which will be generated through the government's auction of spectrum as part of the transition to digital TV.

S2686 requires states to develop statewide interoperability plans before becoming eligible to receive interoperability equipment funds. Requiring states to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security or a regional planning committee in order to receive grant funding encourages the coordination needed to achieve interoperability.

S2686 divides the funding up into grants for interoperable planning and SAFECOM-approved equipment. Public safety agencies will now have the Federal guidance they need to invest in public safety communications equipment that that comply with SAFECOM guidelines, and which is compatible with other equipment within a state or region.

S2686 is a great bill for first responders. For too long, a lack of Federal guidance, uncoordinated efforts between all levels of government, insufficient funding, and a lack of targeted grant assistance have impeded efforts towards achieving communications interoperability. Because S2686 provides solid solutions to these problems, we urge consideration of the bill by the full Senate as soon as possible.

Most cities say they have not received enough money to get emergency responders the radios and equipment they need to be able to talk with each other in a crisis. According to a survey taken by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, "8 in 10 cities say their emergency responders still can't communicate with each other or area towns."

When asked if cities had "received sufficient federal resources to achieve full communications interoperability so that your first responders can communicate with each other, and can talk to neighboring cities, counties, state agencies, key critical infrastructure (mass transit, freight rail, chemical plants), and federal responders in the event of an emergency," survey participants replied as follows:

For cities with populations up to 100,000, 80% of mayors responded that they had not received sufficient federal resources to achieve full communications interoperability.

For cities with populations from 100,001-300,000, 84% of mayors responded that they had not received sufficient federal resources to achieve full communications interoperability.

For cities with populations of 300,001 or greater, 77% of mayors responded that they had not received sufficient federal resources to achieve full communications interoperability.

Mayor Michael Guido, head of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said cities need more federal money, noting that many localities simply can't afford communications upgrades on their own.

But he also touched on another critically-important point: the need for increased coordination and governance. Mayor Guido stressed that cities must also sign mutual-aid agreements with area towns and develop plans for sharing equipment when emergencies occur. Establishing common policies, processes and procedures (i.e., governance structures) like these helps to improve communication, coordination and cooperation throughout a region and across disciplines.

While technology is an important component of the communications crisis, technology alone will not solve the problem. The FRC applauds Mayor Guido, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, for recognizing that coordination between governments and common governing structures are critical to achieving communications interoperability.