[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 4965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1749]


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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, Department of Homeland 
Security.

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 interests of organizations that procure P25 
equipment. The purpose of the meeting is to review and approve the 
proposed Compliance Assessment Bulletin(s).
    The P25 CAP GB will receive public comments during the session, as 
time permits. DHS OIC will post details of the meeting, including the 
agenda, ten business days in advance of the meeting at http://www.safecomprogram.gov.

DATES: The meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 4, 2009, from 
2 p.m. to 3 p.m. (EST).

ADDRESSES: The session will take place via conference call. To 
participate, please send an e-mail to [email protected] by February 
3, 2009, for access information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Luke 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 
technicians, fire personnel, and law enforcement officers--need to 
seamlessly exchange communications across disciplines and jurisdictions 
in order 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 
seamlessly 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 LMR 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: January 12, 2009.
Luke Berndt,
P25 CAP Program Manager.
[FR Doc. E9-1749 Filed 1-27-09; 8:45 am]
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