Executive Summary

America's first responders today face a crisis that drastically reduces their ability to effectively address emergency situations. Across the country, public safety departments cannot talk to one another, because their radios and communications systems are not interoperable. Different technologies, a lack of radio spectrum and frequencies, uncoordinated work on finding solutions, and insufficient funding have all contributed to this problem.

Police, fire, and emergency medical service (EMS) departments cannot communicate with each other and local departments are unable to link their communications systems with state and federal emergency response agencies.

Solving the interoperability problems is no easy task. New equipment, training, and additional spectrum are all required to achieve communications interoperability. Most importantly, providing interoperable communications to first responders will require enormous financial support. It is estimated that $18 billion would be needed to replace all the public safety communications equipment nationwide. Even with these hurdles, the problem must be resolved as quickly as possible. The lack of communications interoperability puts first responders and the communities they protect in danger.

Introduction

In emergency situations, police, fire, emergency medical service (EMS) personnel, and other first responders rely on many different types of equipment to effectively operate and thus save lives. For example, police need bulletproof vests for protection in violent situations. Firefighters need hoses and water to douse blazes. EMS professionals need the latest medical technology and treatments to help victims.

Above all these needs, first responders must be able to talk to one another. And right now, they can't, because their radio and communications systems are not interoperable.

Creating interoperability between public safety communications systems is one of the biggest and most immediate challenges facing first responders. Today, many of America's first responders do not possess modern equipment that allows them to communicate seamlessly with other departments and jurisdictions. Police, fire, and rescue personnel from the same city or town often cannot talk to each other over a common network. All too common, there is little interoperability between the communications systems of local, state, and federal emergency response agencies.

Emergencies are not confined to one jurisdiction. Natural disasters, hazardous materials incidents, terrorist attacks, and other situations often demand the involvement of first responders from several cities/towns/counties and officials from state and federal agencies. Public safety departments need communications links to each other to respond to an emergency, to prevent one from happening, and to protect our communities.

Interoperability Defined

Communications interoperability is the ability of first responders to seamlessly interact with other agencies and departments, sharing information and coordinating their responses to an emergency situation. Traditionally, this communication has taken place using radios and "walkie-talkies," but as technology evolves, more sophisticated systems that allow for data transmission, real-time video, and other advanced communications will become tools for first responders. Interoperability links these systems of different public safety departments together, through various technological means. Simply put, when communications systems are interoperable, first responders can "talk" to each other, greatly improving their effectiveness.

The Interoperability Crisis

Communications interoperability is critical to coordinate an effective and immediate response to any emergency situation. If different public safety departments cannot communicate with one another, their employees' lives are at risk and the communities they serve are in heightened danger.

Today, the lack of interoperability has reached a crisis point. First responders across the nation cannot communicate with each other for a variety of reasons. Communications interoperability must be achieved, but efforts are limited by a lack of funds, uncoordinated endeavors from various departments at all levels of government, and the absence of a clear plan that will lead to interoperability. The First Response Coalition believes that a solution can be implemented, but only if the severity of the problem is recognized and decisive action taken.

The Current State of Communications Interoperability

In today's more dangerous world, first responders need the ability to communicate with other departments. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that there is a long way to go. The U.S. Conference of Mayors, in a June 2004 survey of 192 cities, found that 60% of respondents indicated that city public safety departments did not have interoperability with the state emergency operations center and 88% did not have interoperability with the Department of Homeland Security.

Achieving interoperability is not an easy task. There are over 2.5 million first responders in the United States, comprising 18,000 state and local law enforcement agencies, 26,000 fire departments, and more than 6,000 rescue departments.6 Upgrading the communications systems of all these departments and providing the first responders with the necessary equipment and training requires a dedicated effort, one that cannot be delayed. The ability of all these entities to communicate in times of crisis is critical to protect the public and save lives.

America's First Responders Need the Best

Police, fire, and EMS personnel are deservedly praised by policymakers, but, unfortunately, oftentimes the praise is not followed by action that meets their critical needs. Americans rely on the heroic actions of our first responders - they must be given the necessary tools to continue protecting our communities.

Communications interoperability will make them safer and more effective, and thus we all will benefit. Faced with insufficient funds, outdated radios, a lack of spectrum, and other hurdles, public safety departments are limited in their response to the most dangerous of emergencies. Technical solutions exist for communications interoperability, but the costs are often too high for individual communities. It will take a coordinated effort from all levels of government, something that has been previously lacking.

Decision makers need strive to make the necessary resources available so first responders can obtain the best technology. The First Response Coalition will continue to call for a decisive federal commitment and sufficient funding to make communications interoperability a reality. Interoperable communications systems are invaluable to first responders, equally or more so than the hoses, medicines, and other equipment they use on a daily basis. Our first responders need the best we can give them. We now have the opportunity to meet this challenge.