Emergency communications interoperability at DHS questioned

Computerworld - Democrats who will assume leadership roles on homeland security when the new Congress convenes in January are questioning Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's recently stated goal for having interoperable emergency communications systems nationwide by the end of 2008.

Two Democrats, including incoming House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), wrote in a letter Dec. 8 to Chertoff that his 2008 goal "demonstrates a misunderstanding of the challenges and scope of achieving interoperability among federal, state and local levels of government. The reality is that interoperable communications systems will require a complicated and expensive process that cannot be executed without real knowledge, leadership and funding on the federal level."

The letter, also signed by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), added that it is a "disappointment that it has taken five years since the attacks of Sept. 11 for the administration to finally turn its attention to this [interoperability] issue."

The Democrats also asked Chertoff for a meeting to clarify his Nov. 28 remarks at a conference where interoperability was discussed. Chertoff said then that his agency will ensure that the highest-risk cities will have interoperable emergency communications by the end of 2007 and that all states will have it by the end of 2008. Chertoff also said that the cities in his department's Urban Areas Security Initiative grant program will receive interoperability scorecards by the end of the year to help them decide how much money to seek in upcoming grant applications.

The DHS has provided more than $2.1 billion to state and local governments for interoperable communications since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and has created the SAFECOM program to provide research, testing and evaluation of interoperable wireless communications systems, according to a DHS statement.

The DHS also announced on Dec. 8 the results of a nationwide survey of 6,816 emergency response agencies, which showed that about two-thirds already use radio interoperability to some degree. Of those surveyed, a third use interoperable communications in day-to-day operations, with another third saying they use it only for extraordinary events. The 6,816 agencies that responded came from a group of about 22,400 police, fire and other emergency response agencies from whom comments were solicited.

"The survey reinforces that interoperability is achievable," Chertoff said in a statement. "That technology works today and is available. The willingness of emergency response leaders and local officials to make this issue their priority is what will continue to drive progress on one of 9/11's most important lessons."

Chertoff's office was asked repeatedly to react to the Democrats' concerns, but a spokesman could not be reached for comment.