Interoperability through Mutual Aid Channels

1. Interoperability through Mutual Aid Channels Ernie Crist Harford County, Maryland David Wise Howard County, Maryland

2. Central Maryland Area RadioCommunications Project (CMARC)

3. CMARC MembersFederal, State & Local Public Safety Agencies • Cities: Annapolis & Baltimore • Counties: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard & Queen Anne’s

4. CMARC Jurisdictions City of Annapolis Baltimore City Anne Arundel County Baltimore County Carroll County Harford County Howard County Queen Anne’s County

5. Project Background • Wireless Radio Interoperability – Long Standing Problem • Before & After 9/11, Baltimore Metropolitan Council & Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) identified gaps in Region’s ability to respond to terrorism – Radio Interoperability cited as critical problem

6. Project Background • Opportunities for funding emerged • Baltimore Urban Area Initiative • COPS Office • FEMA • CMARC Project Team rejuvenated

7. Interoperability Problems • Public Safety Radio Systems Are: • Limited by Jurisdictional Boundary Lines • Not easily networked • Limited by available channels & technology

8. Interoperability Solutions • Radio sharing • Sharing ”SYS” Keys • Patching (including use of Integrator) • Use of National Calling/Tactical Channels • Does not require special technology / equipment • Increases capacity (more channels for radio transmissions) • Fast & easy to use

9. CMARC Goals • Deploy infrastructure for Region-wide use of 8CALL & 8TAC channels (Obj: On street portable radio coverage) • Pursue technology for user friendly network management • Explore band bridge options (to tie together UHF, VHF & Fed. call and tactical channels)

10. Project Management • P.M. Oversight Team formed with the following sub-teams • Technical Team (Technology Related issues) • Users Group (Operating Procedures) • Finance (Grant & Budget Activities) • Project Manager consults with all participating agencies • Decisions based on group consensus • Part-time consultant utilized

11. Project Phases • Phase I • Deploy equipment at limited number of sites to cover most critical public & private infrastructure • Use MEMA as Control Point • Activate tactical channel repeaters via low-tech DTMF decoders • Develop user operating procedures • Demonstrate system capabilities via testing, exercises & field use • Cost - $1 million

12. Project Phases • Phase II • Deploy equipment at sites to cover entire region. Budget - $2 Million • Procure & Deploy Network Management System. Budget - $5 Million

13. Project Phases • Phase III • Enhance network management technology • Upgrade subscriber radios • Procure mobile site for region (“Cell On Wheels”) • Periodic training & exercises

14. User Operating Procedures • Easy to understand • Include system use flowcharts • Consistent with Statewide procedures • Plain English terminology • Monthly tests

15. User Operating Procedures System Use Parameters: • For responders from different jurisdictions or agencies that need radio interoperability. • To improve coverage during situation requiring radio interoperability • To add capacity to existing radio system

16. Concept of Operations • MEMA is Control Point & monitors 8CALL • Requests to activate 8TAC coordinated by MEMA (to avoid interference) • Local dispatch activates repeaters and controls assigned 8TAC • All repeaters de-activated at conclusion of incident

17. System Use Scenarios

18. CMARC CHART I Use of CMARC for Incident Command/Unified Command During Catastrophic Emergency Incident

19. CMARC Chart I A police or fire “communications manager” will notify dispatch center of a large scale emergency & request to use one or more of the National Tactical Channels. 8-CALL A police or fire communications manager: uses 8-CALL to request MEMA’s activation of 8-TAC channels. Local Dis. Center Maryland Emergency Management Agency MEMA assigns & announces use of appropriate 8-TAC channels to all CMARC users. 8-CALL Dispatch center or command personnel request the use of additional 8-TAC channels.

20. CMARC Chart I cont’d. RINS channel & 8-TAC direct (Low power talk around channels for Intra-agency & Inter-agency operational communications). PSAP/Dispatch Center will monitor, assign & control tactical channels. 8-TAC Incident Command Incident Command System Branches 8-TAC RINS #1 8-TAC OR Highest level of Police Operational Command RINS #2 D-1 RINS #3 D-2 8-TAC RINS #4 D-3 Highest level of Fire/EMS Operational Command RINS #5 D-4 8-TAC RINS #6 Planning, Logistics & Finance/Administration Emergency Communications/Sharing Across Agency Lines

21. CMARC CHART II Use of CMARC for an event involving personnel from multiple jurisdictions in need of radio interoperability.

22. CMARC Chart II INCIDENT Rescue, crowd control, etc involving multiple jurisdictions County/City Dispatch Center Incident Command Jurisdictions A & B Request for 8-TAC for Incident Command MEMA assigns 8-TAC Channels 8-TAC D and/or RINS can be utilized for operational subgroup. Jurisdiction A Jurisdiction B 8-TAC OR RINS

23. CMARC CHART III Use of CMARC for mobile incident (multi-jurisdictional pursuit)

24. County/City Dispatch Center CMARC Chart III A police officer notifies dispatcher of a multi-jurisdictional vehicle pursuit and requests permission to continue the pursuit utilizing the 8-CALL channel. County/City Dispatch Center PSAP/Dispatch monitor the activated 8-CALL & 8-TAC channel. MEMA announces the use of 8-CALL on a temporary basis. 8-CALL

25. CMARC Chart III cont’d. Assisting units from surrounding jurisdictions/agencies are informed of the pursuit and are directed to switch their radios to 8-CALL. 8-CALL

26. CMARC Chart III cont’d. Once the pursuit has become stationary MEMA will inform the users to switch to the appropriate 8-TAC channel designated for use by the jurisdiction in which the pursuit ended. RINS #1 8-TAC D-1 RINS #2 AND OR 8-TAC D-2 RINS #3 8-TAC 8-TAC D-3 RINS #4 8-TAC D-4 RINS #5 The dispatch center through which the pursuit is passing will contact communications. RINS #6 Emergency Communications/Sharing Across Agency Lines

27. Project Problems • Scope Creep • Technical Deliverables Vs. User Needs • EVER Changing Technology • Sharing Control of System

28. Project Bonuses • Sharing of Info. & Resources • Group Problem Solving = New Ideas • Increase in Communications • Between Levels of Government • Between Agencies (Fire, Police, Public Works, etc.). • Between Technicians & Users • Consolidated Plan For Future

29. TAC-STACK“No Band Left Behind” The Future?

30. TAC-STACK Concept • Group of Base/Repeater stations operating on core group of National TAC interoperability frequencies • These Mutual Aid Channels are links between different frequency bands & are independent of proprietary operating systems

31. TAC-STACK Concept • Deployed for maximum coverage, consistent performance between bands • Frequency re-use maximized (Key issue – simultaneous use without interference for multiple, unrelated incidents)

32. 8TAC 8CALL 8TAC1 8TAC2 8TAC3 8TAC4 UTAC UCALLa UCALL UTAC1a UTAC1 UTAC2a UTAC2 UTAC3a UTAC3 National Interoperability Frequencies VTAC • VCALL • VTAC1 • VTAC2 • VTAC3 • VTAC4

33. Technical Concept

34. Questions?