[Federal Register: July 28, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 145)]
[Notices]
[Page 43764-43765]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jy08-78]
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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 david.keller@touchstone.com 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: Luke.Klein-Berndt@dhs.gov.
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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