WASHINGTON–Technology exists to solve the interoperability problem, according to the Department of Homeland Security secretary, so there is no need to establish a dedicated funding source for interoperable communications. DHS has already spent “hundreds of millions of dollars” on interoperability, said Michael Chertoff.
“I would hesitate to dedicate a huge amount of money without the input of the localities,” said Chertoff, appearing before the Senate Homeland-Security Committee last week to discuss the next five years of homeland security. “As we speak there is technology that achieves interoperability.”
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), chairman of the Senate Homeland-Security Committee, wants 25 percent of the money available for first-responder grants put toward interoperability.
Chertoff said that having money dedicated to interoperability would lead to a solution mandate that could give a specific company a competitive advantage. Further, Chertoff said he doesn’t want the DHS to develop an interoperability standard prematurely.
“We don’t want to lock in proprietary equipment,” said Chertoff, noting that DHS would prefer to use open-source technology that could allow flexibility going forward.
Chertoff will soon know whether the interoperability problem is solved when he gets results from a survey of the 75 largest urban areas on their interoperability situation. “After we have that data, we can have a conversation with them about filling in the holes and about specific needs,” he said.
Survey results are due by the end of the year.
Responding to withering criticism from Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Chertoff said grant money would only be made available to areas that have put in place interoperability rules and procedures since turf battles are sometimes at the heart of the problem.
“This is not a technology issue. This is having community leaders come together,” said Chertoff. “If this survey shows that there are communities that have the ground rules in place and the equipment is not there, we have and will make available grant money.”
“It is insufficient. I can assure you,” replied Levin.
While Chertoff was claiming victory, another administration official was also being questioned about grant money for interoperability–this time the $1 billion being made available with the auction of 700 MHz spectrum.
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) hit John Kneuer with the issue during his confirmation hearing to be assistant Commerce secretary for communications and information with responsibility for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Kneuer appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee with Kevin Martin, who is seeking a second five-year term as a member of the Federal Communications Commission.
When Boxer asked how soon after Oct. 1 NITA would be prepared to distribute grants, Kneuer said progress had been made and support given to roll out the program.
But before he could finish his response, Boxer interrupted and again asked for a firm timeframe for issuing the first public-safety interoperability grants. Kneuer said he could not give her a date.
“I’m glad that you’re planning, but I have to say we don’t have time here. Everybody knows that we have to prepare, that we have to prepare for attacks, that our law enforcement has to talk to each other, and you have the authority to start Oct. 1, and you can’t tell me the date,” Boxer said.
Boxer said Kneuer must write her a letter setting a specific date for when the grants will be available.
The issue of interoperability kept cropping up a lot last week as the nation remembered the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.
RCR Wireless News Washington Bureau Jeffrey Silva contributed to this report.
