Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC)

Transcription

1 State of New Mexico Department of Information Technology 2013 National Association of State Chief Information Officers State IT Recognition Awards Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Category: Cross-Boundary Collaboration and Partnerships Contact: Jacqueline Miller, Deputy Secretary New Mexico Department of Information Technology Project Initiation January 2010 Project Completion September 2012

2 Executive Summary The mission of this project was to design, develop, implement, train and exercise the use of an interoperable radio communication system across the state of New Mexico to allow for the coordination of incident and emergency responses among 750 emergency response agencies. The Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program was created by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (the Act), as amended by Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (the 9/11 Act) and funding for the interoperable emergency communications grant program established under the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 to remain available until expended through fiscal year The legislation directed the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the Department of Commerce (DOC), in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to establish and administer a grant program to assist public safety agencies in the advancement of interoperable communications. On September 30, 2007, the PSIC Grant Program awarded $968 million to fund interoperable communications projects in the 56 States and Territories. New Mexico was allocated $ 8.2 million from this grant. It was anticipated that the funding would address many of the interoperability issues that government entities across New Mexico have raised in the past. This project would allow the initiation of the procurement process for equipment and eventually the implementation of an interoperable means of communications between government entities at all levels. New Mexico chose to implement a system at the state level as this approach provides a more comprehensive solution to the issues of interoperability and reduces the effort required by local officials and impacts to the local budgets. As a result of this decision, two investment justifications were submitted for approval. The first investment justification was to establish governance, structure, and then implement a system to support UHF, VHF, and 800 MHz radio traffic using National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) defined channels. The second was for strategic technology reserve equipment would to purchased and staged at strategic locations throughout the state and available in case of an emergency. New Mexico developed a cooperative plan between Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, other state agencies and representatives of cities and counties throughout the state. The final goal of the project was to procure and install equipment that provide both inter-jurisdictional and inter-disciplinary radio communications across the state in the event of emergency situations. NASCIO 2013 State Recognition Awards - Page 1

3 Problems and Solutions Prior to the implementation of PSIC, government entities in New Mexico were unable to interoperate with equipment that utilized UHF, VHF, and 800 MHz radio traffic. Some entities would use one frequency, while others would use another making communication impossible, even in the direst of emergencies and 2012 were some of the worst years for fire emergencies in New Mexico history, burning hundreds of thousands of acres across the state, threatening communities and structures. The overwhelming demand for emergency services in response to these disasters further emphasized the growing need for radio interoperability between government agencies. A primary focus of the PSIC program was to improve interoperable communications governance, and establish operating procedures for local, regional, and statewide interoperable communications capability and for disciplined use. Training and exercises provide familiarity with the system so that use of the system is automatic in a disaster response. The technical approach that New Mexico took for the use of the PSIC grant funding was to install multiple interconnected radio repeaters at the locations (towers and facilities) already in place as part of New Mexico s statewide microwave communications backbone. The communications facilities that comprise this communications backbone are well suited and situated to support the implementation of a statewide interoperable communications strategy that provides the greatest capability for all public safety jurisdictions integration into an interoperable communications network and provide the greatest leverage for multidiscipline, multijurisdictional communications. The essential characteristics of the implementation are, first, radio repeater sets implemented on many of the current backbone s antenna towers across the state with the objective of covering 85% of the population and 75% of the geography. On each tower, there are antenna and repeater for each of the currently in use frequency bands (UHF, VHF, and 800 MHz). Each repeater is tuned to a selected NPSTIC frequency, and these repeaters are cross-connected so that any communications received by a repeater will be rebroadcast on all three of the chosen channel frequencies. Additionally, the repeaters are connected to the microwave backbone so that communications can be established with the New Mexico Emergency Operations Center, deployed regional communications centers, and so that sets of repeaters can be interconnected and provide broader coverage where the need to support larger communications areas exists. A fourth repeater at each site is tuned to the NASCIO 2013 State Recognition Awards - Page 2

4 National Dispatch frequency and places users in contact with regional and state dispatch/emergency operations centers. In addition to the acquisition and implementation of the equipment needed to support this interoperable communications strategy, this program is also responsible for improving overall coordination and cooperation among local jurisdictions through agreements on system governance, the development of standard operational procedures, training on the use of the interoperable communications strategy, and exercises to test the operational procedures, personnel training, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the technology and the operation of the system. Limitations found during exercises are used to improve the overall system performance. In cooperation with the PSIC program, The Statewide Interoperable Communications Working Group (SICWG) is responsible for interoperable communications among emergency responders in New Mexico. Through the SICWG, the program builds regional and statewide standard operating procedures based on the standard operating procedures created in 2006 for the Middle Rio Grande/Greater Albuquerque Metro Planning Area. Local jurisdictions are given the opportunity, and encouraged, to participate in the design and development of the SOP and procedures for interoperable communications governance. PSIC also implemented a Tactical Interoperable Communication Plan (TICP) for each of the Preparedness Areas and state agencies, and provides training for public safety personnel on the concepts of interoperability, governance, and new standard operating procedures. The SICWG ensures that all future exercises include an interoperable communications component. The SICWG also spends time planning for the introduction of new technologies and supervising efforts at continual service improvements. Significance The first significant accomplishment of PSIC was to establish governance, structure, and then implement a system to support UHF, VHF, and 800 MHz radio traffic using NPSTC defined channels. The second significant accomplishment was that strategic technology reserve equipment would be purchased and staged at strategic locations within the State and available in case of an emergency. This project made great strides in communication between government agencies to better respond to emergency situations. Strategically it was significant because it was built on legacy systems rather than building a complete new system, saving money to taxpayers and requiring less resources than a complete overhaul of the existing radio network. NASCIO 2013 State Recognition Awards - Page 3

5 It used local technicians, inclusive of amateur radio and small to large departments and good group collaboration-ability to work together professionally. The SICWG meetings were collaborative-toward state interest instead of political ones on all levels, and expanded intergovernmental cooperation. The PSIC project began under one administration and was completed in a timely manner under the next. The PSIC project is a significant accomplishment for the people of New Mexico. It utilizes a new concept to a smaller state to achieve an end-result product that improves public safety for everyone. Ultimately, the success of this program was based on the ability of emergency responders and public safety agencies to communicate in an integrated and effective manner through the interoperable communication implemented in this program. Indeed, it was the business case that drove the application of the technology that ultimately precipitated program success. Statewide and regional interoperability is continually evaluated using the SAFECOM Continuum to scale the point in each lane where the region and state can persistently improve. The other evaluation tools are the After Action Exercise Reports, training evaluation and skill tests, and regional and state cooperation. New Mexico broke the project up into two parts, governance and technology. In response to the governance challenges, New Mexico conducted bi-annual General SICWG meetings that addressed various topics including governance, standard operating procedures (SOP), technology, and TCIPs. Attendance at the General meetings started out sparse but grew in size as the meetings became better known. Each meeting has had a theme and has had speakers from various partners including Federal, Industry, and volunteer organizations. In addition, New Mexico has held SOP and TICP workshops in each of the six preparedness areas. As a result, each area has at least a draft TICP and SOPs that can be used during exercises, planned events, or disasters. Although these sound like easy achievements, the governance structure took great care to establish. Benefit of the Project The project for the Design, Development, Implementation, Training, and Exercises of an Interoperable (radio) Communications System across the state of New Mexico to allow coordination of incident and emergency responses among 750 Emergency Responder Agencies was successful. The SICWG value continues today. NASCIO 2013 State Recognition Awards - Page 4

6 Evaluation of Assets: TICPs completed for all six New Mexico Preparedness Areas. This included the identification of gaps in statewide interoperable communications through the utilization of the ICTAP CASM tool. The SICWG Committee takes an active ongoing role in in regularly assessing and reviews the program. Planning: The project designed a statewide interoperable communications system network built onto the state owned digital microwave backbone that provides the access port for Primary Communications Centers and state identified Emergency Operations Centers to connect. The project also developed a plan to support local agencies and jurisdictions in the acquisition of evolving technology systems. Training: The project developed and implemented a comprehensive training program on communications interoperability with pertinent public safety responders and state staff. The project conducted Communications Unit Leader training in each Preparedness Area and with State response agencies. The ongoing program conducts exercises to develop skills and understanding. Governance: The project developed policy, process, and procedures for the continued oversight and implementation of interoperable communications in New Mexico. The project developed Interoperable Communications Standard Operations Procedures to serve as a basis for communications and radio operations discipline. Acquisition, Deployment, Coordination: The project planned, procured, installed and oversees the implementation of the interoperable communications system. Interoperability benefits include solutions such as person-to-person radio sharing, mutual aid channels, connection through radio consoles and radio gateway switch accessibility. The Public Safety Interoperable Communications Program has been a significant accomplishment for the State of New Mexico. With the help of the federal government, New Mexico now stands ready to respond to emergencies and major disasters in a coordinated and organized effort. NASCIO 2013 State Recognition Awards - Page 5