Project 25 (P25) releases P25 Steering Committee Representative Handbook

The Project 25 (P25) Steering Committee is the governing authority of P25 and has the sole authority to approve a standards proposal, telecommunications system bulletin, or white paper as a P25 standard. In 1992, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was executed between the founding organizations (Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO), National Association of State Technology Directors (NASTD), and the U.S. Federal Government) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) defining the roles, responsibilities, and authority of the Project 25 Steering Committee. In accordance with the MOU, the Steering Committee works closely with manufacturers to develop and maintain a suite of standards that best serves the continually evolving needs of the public safety community.

Steering Committee membership is comprised of public safety users and user representatives from APCO, NASTD, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators, an associate member from the University of Melbourne (Australia) representing academia, and four federal departments/agencies: Department of Homeland Security, Department of the Interior, Department of Justice, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Associate membership is also open to representatives from the public safety community from state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies.

The P25 Steering Committee developed and approved publication of the P25 Steering Committee Representative Handbook (.pdf, 1 MB) to provide guidance for newly appointed P25 Steering Committee representatives. Specifically, the document provides relevant information about the history, background, goals, and procedures of the P25 Steering Committee. The document is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about the P25 standards development process, standard numbering conventions, and how to get involved with P25 standards development.

To learn more about the P25 Steering Committee’s work or for more information on getting involved with the Steering Committee, visit https://www.cisa.gov/safecom/technology, https://www.cisa.gov/safecom/project-25-resources, or email project25sc@cisa.dhs.gov.