BACKGROUND ON PUBLIC SAFETY WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS:
Inadequate and unreliable wireless communications have been issues plaguing public safety organizations for decades. In many cases, agencies cannot perform their mission critical duties. These agencies are unable to share vital voice or data information via radio with other jurisdictions in day-to-day operations and in emergency response to incidents including acts of terrorism and natural disasters.
According to a report done by the National Task Force on Interoperability (February 2003), the public safety community has identified the following key issues that hamper public safety wireless communications today:
- Incompatible and aging communications equipment
- Limited and fragmented budget cycles and funding
- Limited and fragmented planning and coordination
- Limited and fragmented radio spectrum
- Limited equipment standards
In short, the Nation is heavily invested in an existing infrastructure that is largely incompatible. The SAFECOM Program was established by the Office of Management & Budget and approved by the President's Management Council to address these public safety communications issues.
THE SAFECOM PROGRAM:
SAFECOM's mission is to serve as the umbrella program within the Federal Government to help local, tribal, state, and federal public safety agencies improve public safety response through more effective and efficient interoperable wireless communications. Communications interoperability is the ability of public safety agencies to talk across disciplines and jurisdictions via radio communications systems, exchanging voice and/or data with one another on demand, in real time, when authorized.
SAFECOM is the first national program designed by public safety for public safety. As a public safety practitioner driven program, SAFECOM is working with existing federal communications initiatives and key public safety stakeholders to address the need to develop better technologies and processes for the cross-jurisdictional and cross-disciplinary coordination of existing systems and future networks. SAFECOM harnesses diverse federal resources in service of the public safety community. The scope of this community is broad. The customer base includes over 50,000 local and state public safety agencies and organizations. Federal customers include over 100 agencies engaged in public safety disciplines such as law enforcement, firefighting, public health and disaster recovery.
SAFECOM makes it possible for the public safety community to leverage resources by promoting coordination and cooperation across all levels of government.
SAFECOM'S NEAR-TERM INITIATIVES:
- Develop a process to advance standards necessary to improve public safety communications and interoperability
- Integrate coordinated grant guidance across all agencies providing grants for public safety communications and interoperability
- Provide training and technical assistance for public safety communications and interoperability
- Create a one-stop shop for public safety communications and interoperability
- Research, develop, test, and evaluate existing and emerging technologies for improved public safety communications and interoperability
SAFECOM'S LONG-TERM GOALS:
- Provide policy recommendations
- Develop a technical foundation for public safety communications and interoperability
- Coordinate funding assistance for public safety communications and interoperability
- Create and implement a national training and technical assistance program
SAFECOM, with its partners, is assuring a safer America through effective public safety communications.
David Boyd, Ph.D.
Director, SAFECOM Program Office
Contact SAFECOM Program
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