[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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