Roadmap to the Envisioned State of Emergency Communications
The Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (ECPC) coordinates interoperable emergency communications across federal departments and agencies. Within the ECPC, its Grants Focus Group shares information across financial assistance programs and establishes consistent guidance for federal program managers/administrators and grant applicants/recipients. The ECPC Grants Focus Group developed this Roadmap for the emergency response community to outline issues and steps toward realizing the National Emergency Communications Plan vision, specifically what the community should consider when investing in emergency communications. The Roadmap includes:
- Key considerations such as deployment of the First Responder Network Authority’s (FirstNet) Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN), Next Generation 911 (NG911) migration, shared communications systems and infrastructure projects, lifecycle planning, and cybersecurity concerns.
- Appendix of resources providing websites for additional information and guidance on Roadmap topics.
Resources for Federal Program Managers/Administrators and Grant Applicants/Recipients of Emergency Communications
- General Assistance / Federal Financial Assistance Programs for Emergency Communications
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- ECPC coordinates interoperable emergency communications across federal departments and agencies. Within the ECPC, its Grants Focus Group shares information across financial assistance programs and establishes consistent guidance for federal program managers/administrators and grant applicants/recipients
- CISA's Emergency Communications Division enhances public safety interoperable communications at all levels of government and conducts extensive, nationwide outreach to support and promote the ability of emergency response providers and relevant government officials to communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other hazards. CISA provides plans, resources, and training to assist responders, including:
- National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) is the nation’s strategic plan to improve emergency communications; updates to be released in 2025
- Technical Assistance Service Offerings Guide, in which states, territories, and tribes may apply for no-cost technical assistance services and training
- SAFECOM and the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC) develop guidance documents, public safety tools, and mobile applications
- Federal Financial Assistance Program information:
- Grants.gov is the federal government listing of all funding opportunities; awards must adhere to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
The List of Federal Financial Assistance Programs Funding Emergency Communications summarizes federal grants, loans, and cooperative agreements that fund communications investments
- FirstNet Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) and Other Public Safety Broadband Providers
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- FirstNet Authority is responsible for implementing the FirstNet NPSBN and offers fact sheets, frequently asked questions, presentations, and reports on its website
The Federal Communications Commission's Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) publishes broadband reports and recommendations for public safety agencies
- Next Generation 911
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- National 911 Program offers Next Generation 911 (NG911) guidance including NG911 Standards Identification and Review and NG911 for Leaders in Law Enforcement
CISA recommends understanding Cyber Risks to NG911 when planning 911 system migration
- Shared Communications Systems and Infrastructure Projects
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- Emergency Communications Governance Guide for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Officials provides public safety professionals with tools to establish and sustain effective governance of shared communications systems and infrastructure projects
- Lifecycle Planning
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- Emergency Communications System Lifecycle Planning Guide provides considerations and recommended actions for each phase of system lifecycle planning
Project 25 (P25) Suite of Standards is the recognized technical standards to promote interoperability for land mobile radio systems and equipment; P25 Compliance Assessment Program is a voluntary program, which allows suppliers to publicly attest to their products' compliance through testing at DHS-recognized laboratories
- Cybersecurity
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- National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) offers the Cybersecurity Framework as a flexible and voluntary risk-based approach that outlines techniques to reduce cybersecurity risk.
- SAFECOM and the NCSWIC released the 911 Cybersecurity Resource Hub for Emergency Communications Centers and related operational functions.
The Roadmap is an educational tool complementing the ECPC Federal Financial Assistance Reference Guide for federal program managers and the SAFECOM Guidance on Emergency Communications Grants for grant applicants. These documents provide recommendations and resources to promote consistent guidance across financial assistance programs for emergency communications investments. Specifically:
ECPC Federal Financial Assistance Reference Guide
Designed by federal program managers, the Reference Guide provides common guidance for federal program managers to use when developing Notices of Funding Opportunity, reviewing applications, and monitoring emergency communications projects.
contact the ecpc for a copy of the Refeerence Guide
SAFECOM Guidance on Emergency Communications Grants
Developed jointly by the public safety community (SAFECOM / National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators [NCSWIC]) and federal program managers, the Guidance is updated annually with best practices, recommendations, and technical standards for grant applicants to reference when developing emergency communications proposals.
download a copy of the latest guidance
ECPC: The Federal Interagency Focal Point for Interoperable Communications Coordination
For more information about the ECPC or this document, email ECPC@cisa.dhs.gov
