Peter Orne Wireless Government Subscribe to Newsletter Tell a Friend Print this Page 08/14/2008 Public-Safety Interoperability Cure? Verizon Offers Cisco's IP-Based Solution Based on observations at W2i roundtables on wireless and multi-agency disaster response in Washington (DC), Tallahassee (FL) and Riverside (CA), interoperability remains a significant puzzle for federal, state and local-government agencies. On August 5th, Verizon Business announced that it would use Cisco IPICS to begin providing an interoperability solution — Verizon Communications Interoperability Solution — for these agencies, including police, fire and medical first responders. First unveiled in October 2005, Cisco IPICS is an Internet protocol (IP) network collaboration platform that extends the reach of two-way radios to other voice, video and data networks. Verizon’s customers will now be able to access other radio solutions through IPICS. Wireless Government Report spoke with Paul DeLorimiere, Director of Emergency Services Product Marketing, about the new offering. Peter Orne: A widely distributed IP-based solution could help further solve the interoperability puzzle facing federal, state and local-government public-safety officials. How does Verizon's IPICS-based solution work? How will it help? Paul DeLormiere: IPICS is a VoIP enabler that converts the analog signals that are out there into a common IP network so there can be joint communication. From that standpoint, it allows for various disparate agencies to connect. In a given market, silos have evolved based on the decisions we’ve made relative to the purchase of different systems. This is logical relative to how radio propagates in certain areas, but these silos have presented the issues around interoperability. They’re not able to communicate together. By placing a router at each of the different radio systems, Verizon Communications Interoperability Solution is able to convert unique analog signals and bring them back into the Verizon private IP network. And because of all the features that are in our VPN, we can then offer a customer an ability to interoperate with others on a common set of radio channels — for instance, one for command-and-control or one for the field operations. It prevents the need to buy a P25 system that would run millions of dollars. Q: Can anyone get on board at any time? Say there’s an agency that doesn’t have the Verizon Communications Interoperability Solution. Would it need the IPICS platform to be able to communicate with other agencies? A: An agency doesn't need an IPICS platform to participate, but they need an IPICS client on whatever their device is. You could join through your landline phone, Blackberry, cell phone, a Web-based client and a number of different systems and end-user devices you can have access to. Say the mayor is traveling, and he really wants to join the fire chief on a command-and-control set-up on IPICS. There’s a client on his cell phone that would allow him to dial in and be part of the discussion. It’s not like everybody has to buy a full-blown IPICS platform. However, if the agency were to have field personnel with their own radio system, they would need to be sure that agency has an IPICS router. The Verizon Business private IP network is the ideal platform for Verizon Communications Interoperability Solution. However, the service will work with other IP networks if it meets other technical requirements; for example, if a state purchases IP connectivity from a third party. Q: How much is this offering informed by federal policies and the increased funding for interoperability we're seeing from the Department of Homeland Security? A: Ever since September 11 and the 911 Commission — the reports that are out there [PDF] and the need for interoperability — all these things are key indicators that these are the right things to do for us in creating a communication technology that will allow for that more efficient and effective communication to happen. From an operations perspective, there’s a lot of growth that has to go on as well. It’s these tools that will encourage more of this to happen. Q: It’s IP that’s making this possible. A: And that’s why this makes sense from a Verizon perspective. Our IP capability is second to none, and it’s absolutely the core of what we are and what we do at Verizon Business. There are three different points to make here. The first is our ability to multicast and pull in any number of different systems and allow them to communicate into a private common network. The second is that this is voice and QoS that will function like the radio signal. A third — and most important — is that when you think about public safety, this is a secure solution. You’re only connecting up the government agencies, so you know what’s on each end. We can offer SLAs for our IP solutions that are second to none. You can’t have any breaches in this. Q: How does the server administration work? A: Talk groups can be set up beforehand. Communities going through disaster-planning activities can imagine whether they need this command-and-control channel and who’s going to be allowed access to it — the police chief, fire chief, mayor — and then we’ll set up an operational channel that’s specific to responding to a fire or to a terrorist event. Groups can also be set up on the fly. It can become interoperable almost instantaneously. You can have multiple servers on the network, too, to build in redundancies. There may be servers in multiple locations. It just has to be able to get into the network. Q: How have you seen this being used so far? A: In West Virginia, we’re deploying Verizon Communications Interoperability Solution throughout the state with multiple agencies. Certainly, this is going to provide some capabilities from mobile command should an issue exist in West Virginia, and it’s something that will enhance their interoperability. Some are the Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), some are the FBI, FEMA and DHS. There are more than 100,000 federal and state agencies that support public safety throughout the U.S. In the event of a bioterrorism attack, for example, CDC would need to be involved. How do they get information from the actual guy on site talking on his radio? You could talk to that person live using that IPICS system. Q: What about future steps? A: I think some of the things inherent with those IP capabilities present an opportunity to assist and achieve interoperability. This could be a good catalyst to get us there. We’re thrilled with this service and its reception. Over time, Verizon Communications Interoperability Solution will evolve, and we have plans to build this out to our Verizon data centers and offer this on a hosted basis as well. Some customers are more comfortable with that instead of buying the CPE, so we recognize that and have plans to pull that together next year. back Related Items: • Beaverton, OR • W2i Finalizes Program Agenda for Digital Cities Convention in Washington, DC • Bowling Green (KY) Launches Public Safety Wi-Fi • Interoperability Grants — An Opportunity for Tomorrow, If You Know Where to Look Today! • Government Processes Reengineering Roundtable: Summary • WEBINAR: Wireless Video Surveillance at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions Comments No records were found. 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