[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 145 (Monday, July 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43764-43765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17272]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Science and Technology Directorate


Notice of Public Meeting of the Project 25 Compliance Assessment 
Program Governing Board

AGENCY: Science and Technology Directorate, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office for 
Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC) will hold a public meeting of 
its Project 25 (P25) Compliance Assessment Program (CAP) Governing 
Board (GB). The P25 CAP GB is composed of public sector officials who 
represent the collective interest of organizations that procure P25 
equipment. The purpose of the meeting is to review and approve the 
proposed Compliance Assessment Bulletin(s).
    If time permits, the P25 CAP GB will take oral public comments 
during the last ten minutes of the call. If you would like to provide 
oral comments (two minutes maximum), please indicate so when 
registering for the conference call. The P25 CAP GB also welcomes 
ongoing written feedback on the program. To provide your written 
comments anytime, please visit http://www.safecomprogram.gov/SAFECOM/currentprojects/project25cap/.
    DHS OIC will post details of the meeting, including the agenda, ten

[[Page 43765]]

business days in advance of the meeting at http://www.safecomprogram.gov.

DATES: The meeting will take place on Thursday, August 14, 2008, from 2 
p.m. to 3 p.m. (EST).

ADDRESSES: The session will take place via conference call. To listen, 
please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 202-449-
7142 by August 13 for access information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luke Klein-Berndt, Department of 
Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, Office for 
Interoperability and Compatibility, Washington Navy Yard, 245 Murray 
Lane, SW., Building 410, Washington, DC 20528. Telephone: 
(202) 254-5332. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Emergency responders--emergency medical 
services, fire personnel, and law enforcement officers--need to 
seamlessly exchange communications across disciplines and jurisdictions 
to successfully respond to day-to-day incidents and large-scale 
emergencies. P25 focuses on developing standards that allow radios and 
other components to interoperate, regardless of the manufacturer. In 
turn, these standards enable emergency responders to exchange critical 
communications with other disciplines and jurisdictions.
    An initial goal of P25 is to specify formal standards for 
interfaces between the components of a land mobile radio (LMR) system; 
LMR systems are commonly used by emergency responders in portable 
handheld and mobile vehicle-mounted devices. Although formal standards 
are being developed, no process is currently in place to confirm that 
equipment advertised as P25-compliant meets all aspects of P25 
standards.
    To address discrepancies between P25 standards and industry 
equipment, Congress passed legislation calling for the creation of the 
P25 CAP. The P25 CAP is a partnership of the DHS Command, Control and 
Interoperability Division; the Department of Commerce's National 
Institute of Standards and Technology; industry; and the emergency 
response community.
    The P25 CAP works to establish a process for ensuring that 
equipment complies with P25 standards and can interoperate across 
manufacturers. By providing manufacturers with a method to test their 
equipment for compliance with P25 standards, the P25 CAP helps 
emergency response officials make informed purchasing decisions. The 
program's initial focus is on the Common Air Interface, which allows 
for over-the-air compatibility between mobile and portable radios and 
tower equipment.
    For more information on the program, please review OIC's Charter 
for the Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program, which is available at 
http://www.safecomprogram.gov.

    Dated: July 14, 2008.
Luke Klein-Berndt,
P25 CAP Program Manager.
 [FR Doc. E8-17272 Filed 7-25-08; 8:45 am]
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