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FRC Launches MySpace & Facebook Pages!
Friday, March 30, 2007
The FRC today launched MySpace and Facebook pages as part of the effort to make September 25 National First Responder Appreciation Day. If you're not familiar with Facebook or MySpace, both are online services that allow you to create your own website. Through either service, you can keep in touch with your friends and family, share photos, and find other people that share your interests. We're looking for people who care about first responders and who think they deserve a national day of appreciation. I hope you'll help us spread the word about National First Responder Appreciation Day by adding us as your friend on your MySpace or Facebook page. Click here to add me as a friend in Facebook. 
New DHS Program to Support First Responders
Thursday, March 29, 2007
The following is a press release from the Department of Homeland Security: Science and Technology Directorate Establishes TechSolutions Program to Support Emergency Response Community
Release Date: March 28, 2007
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-9772
The Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology (S&T) directorate has established a program, TechSolutions, to support the first responder community by accelerating delivery of emerging technologies. TechSolutions is designed to collect technological requirements and provide solutions for first responders.
"No one understands the needs of first responders better than first responders," said Jay M. Cohen, Under Secretary for S&T. "Every day, hundreds of law enforcement officers, fire fighters, emergency medical services personnel and bomb-squad members think, 'there's a better way to do this,' and we want to hear from them."
S&T's commitment to spiral development and rapid prototyping ensures funding for selected proposals within 45 days, and a solution demonstrated within 12 months of funding. Costs of the solutions should be commensurate with the proposal, but less than $1 million per project. Solutions also should deliver up to 100 percent of identified requirements, and first responders will partner with the department from start to finish.
First responders are encouraged to submit ideas that would aid the first responder community by increasing efficiency and on-the-job safety at: www.dhs.gov/techsolutions.
Free Satellite Comms Guide for First Responders
Monday, March 19, 2007
Involved in emergency response but mystified by satellite communications? Help is on the way. The Satellite Industry Association ( www.sia.org) has released the First Responder's Guide to Satellite Communications. The guide provides a comprehensive overview and tutorial of satellite technology, including its role in emergency planning, response and recovery. A glossary of frequencies, terms and definitions takes the mystery out of the technology for first-time users. 
At just 22 pages, it makes for a quick but informative read, and illustrates the important role of satellite technology as part of the interoperability solution. Topics addressed include:
- An intro. to satellite communications capabilities
- Voice, video and data applications
- Equipment overviews
- Basic, easy-to-follow steps for connecting with a satellite through various types of terminals
The SIA guide is intended for the entire emergency communications chain. So whether you're involved in emergency response at the local, state or federal level, the First Responder's Guide to Satellite Communications is a "must read." I've also got a stack of these babies next to my desk, courtesy of the SIA. If you're interested in distributing the guide among your fellow responders or other officials, feel free to email me and I'll gladly send you however many copies you need.
Fun with Mother Nature
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Who knew messing with Mother Nature could be so much fun?! The secretariat of the United Nation's "International Strategy for Disaster Reduction" has launched an online disaster game aimed at teaching people how to build safer villages and cities against disasters. As Eric's Corner/Emergency Management Blog describes it, "The game presents the player with a disaster and a community. It is the players job to make the necessary modifications to the town's landscape and infrastructure in order to mitigate disaster damages, including educating the public about disaster risk." 
Fire Service Study Reveals Communications Gap
Monday, March 12, 2007
 Only 25% percent of fire departments in the United States can communicate with their Federal, state, and local partners, and 65% of fire departments do not have enough portable radios to equip all emergency responders on a shift.
These are the startling conclusions reached in the U.S. Fire Administration's new report, " Four Years Later - A Second Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service." The study was conducted in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security and the National Fire Protection Association. In all, 15,545 fire departments (just over half the total in NFPA database) were mailed survey forms, and 4,709 responded, for a 30% response rate. The disturbing revelation that only one-in-four fire departments can communicate with their counterparts stands in marked contrast to the National Interoperability Baseline Survey, which painted a far-rosier picture of our first responder's communications capabilities. It's painfully obvious that we've got a long way to go. I'm still convinced that if we had a national strategy, including a target date by which to achieve interoperability, coupled with strong federal leadership and adequate funding we could achieve interoperability in just a few years. Note: If you're interested in learning more abut the needs of fire departments in your state, be sure to go to the bottom of the USFA web page, where, under "State Reports," you can download state-specific information.
Campaign Update: National First Responder Appreciation Day
Friday, March 09, 2007
 The FRC-led campaign to make September 25th National First Responder Appreciation Day marches on! To date over 3,700 people have signed the on-line petition, and more than 800 people have asked nearly 3,500 of their friends, family members and colleagues to support the cause.
While we've put a good-sized dent in our goal of 25,000 signatures, we've still got a long way to go. If you haven't already signed the petition please do so! After you've done that, please tell your friends that we need their help and that we need it right away! Don't forget to download our action kit and urge others in your community, especially your first responders, to support the cause. And if you're an organization, or if you know of an organization, that thinks first responders deserve a national day of appreciation- just like catfish, ice cream and frozen dinners- then send me an email and become an FRC supporter. It's FREE! Thanks for your support! With your continued help we can give our first responders the national day of appreciation that they deserve!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
 The report finds the following:
(1) Funding remains the major hurdle to achieving full interoperability, with creative state financing limited by insufficient federal commitments
(2) State innovations illustrate the opportunity to improve the existing first responder communications system and upgrade networks with new technologies without drastically reallocating spectrum
(3) As various states pursue innovative tactics, there is a distinct need for adherence to technical standards to better ensure equipment employed across jurisdictions is compatible.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Last year, the FRC called on the President to establish a "date certain" by which to achieve nation-wide communications interoperability. In June 2006, I wrote a letter to the President that read as follows: To best determine the appropriate target date and begin to develop a national plan for interoperability, the FRC strongly recommends the White House convene a National Interoperability Summit. An important first step is to bring together first responders, scholars, telecommunications and technology providers, and key stakeholders to implement your national vision for interoperability. The FRC welcomes the opportunity to work with the White House on this Summit and contribute to the critically important ongoing dialogue. Without these bold actions, first responders across the country will continue to face monumental communications challenges.I forwarded the letter to the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, the Assistant to the Vice President for Homeland Security, and to the Deputy Assistant to the President and Director at the Office of Public Liaison. That was 8 months ago. I never heard a peep from anyone in the administration. Not even so much as an acknowledgement that they had received my letter. And then yesterday, the FCC announces that the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will host a summit on interoperable and reliable public safety communications.  According to the press release, "The summit will include expert panel discussions led by representatives from the public safety community, the communications industry and government. In addition, the summit will close with an open roundtable forum for participants to raise key issues related to emergency preparedness and response." Three expert panel discussions will focus on (1) government agencies and public safety initiatives, (2) the transition from legacy to future architectures, and (3) broadband applications for first responders. Finally, progress! I applaud the FCC for holding this summit, and it's encouraging to see the new Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau really tackling this issue. Now, if we could only get the Feds to establish a " target date" by which to achieve communications interoperability we would really be on our way to giving our first responders the tools they need to save lives.
Great NIUSR Video
The National Insititue for Urban Search & Rescue (NIUSR)- an FRC supporter- has a great video that explains who they are and what they do. I liked it so much- from its emphasis on collaboration to the groovy soundtrack- that I just had to share. Click on their logo to watch! 
FRC to Speak at Capitol Hill Event
Friday, March 02, 2007
The current list of speakers includes:
Scott Wallsten (Moderator) Senior Fellow, Director of Communications Policy Studies, Progress & Freedom Foundation
Michael Calabrese Vice President; Director, Wireless Future Program, New America Foundation
Jeff Eisenach Chairman, Criterion Economics
Michael Gallagher Partner, Perkins Coie, LLP
Steven Jones Executive Director, First Response Coalition
Morgan O'Brien Co-founder; Chairman, Cyren Call Communications (Invited)
Janice Obuchowski Chairman, Frontline Wireless (Invited)
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