Technology is a critical tool for improving interoperability that should meet the needs of practitioners on the front lines and should address regional needs, existing infrastructure, cost verses benefits, and sustainability. The resources below provide examples of the technology currently used in the public safety environment.
Alerts, Warnings, and Notifications (AWNs)
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Paging: A Vital Link for Public Safety
This document describes the value of paging to public safety operations, outlines considerations when implementing paging technology, explores best practices surrounding paging technology use, and suggests considerations to be addressed as technology evolves.
Essentials of Alerts, Warnings and Notifications (AWNs) (.pdf, 819.15 KB)
An overview of existing national AWN systems designed to offer public safety stakeholders the information and tools needed to familiarize themselves with AWN systems.
Public Safety Communications: Ten Keys to Improving Emergency Alerts, Warnings, and Notifications (.pdf, 755.11 KB)
Best practices alert originators, managers, system administrators, system operators, and emergency managers from government and non-government organizations can leverage to improve whole-community public emergency messaging.
Interoperability
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The Transition to Advanced Encryption Standard White Paper
This white paper highlights the vulnerabilities of the continued use of the deprecated DES and other non-standard algorithms and provides an overview of actions and next steps being taking to support state, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT) agencies transition to Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) capabilities.
Interoperability Continuum: A tool for Improving Emergency Response Communications and Interoperability (.pdf, 2.84 MB)
This tool provides a framework from which all emergency response agencies at the Federal, State, local, and tribal levels could use to baseline their planning and implementation of interoperability solutions.
Approach for Developing an Interoperable Information Sharing Framework (.pdf, 10 MB)
This report describes the ongoing development of an Information Sharing Framework (ISF) for public safety. The ISF is designed to integrate public safety technology into operational practices and recommends the ISF structure, requirements, and policy considerations.
Inter-RF Subsystem Interface (ISSI) Fact Sheet (.pdf, 214 KB)
This document provides an overview of the Inter-RF Subsystem Interface (ISSI), which provides a standards-based connection between two or more Project 25 (P25) networks to form a “system of systems.”
Office for Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC) Fact Sheet (.pdf, 45 KB)
Provides background on OIC, which was established in 2004 to strengthen and integrate interoperability and compatibility efforts in order to improve Federal, State, local, and tribal emergency response and preparedness.
Priority Telecommunications Services
CISA provides the following services to federal, state, local, territorial and tribal emergency personnel, as well as industry personnel, to ensure ongoing communications under all circumstances: Government Emergency Telecommunications Services (GETS), Wireless Priority Services (WPS), and Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP).
Land Mobile Radio and Broadband
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Land Mobile Radio (LMR) for Information Technology (IT) Professionals
This document explores the differences and unique requirements between LMR and IT networks to increase the IT professional’s understanding of what is involved in planning, implementing, and managing an LMR network by providing a high-level overview of system components, technologies, and operational needs.
Cyber Risks to Land Mobile Radio - First Edition (.pdf, 740.28 KB)
This document is intended for use by public safety officials and managers to familiarize themselves with LMR systems, cyber risks to LMR systems, and best practices and recommendations to mitigate cyber threats to public safety communications.
Inter Radio Frequency (RF) Subsystem Interface (ISSI) Technology: Interconnecting Networks (.pdf, 463 KB)
Provides a quick overview of the ISSI Technology.
LMR Request for Proposal (RFP) Toolkit
The RFP Toolkit introduces federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and regional public safety agencies and entities to the RFP and Request for Information (RFI) processes for procuring LMR subscriber units (radio units), while providing foundational information about certain aspects of the RFP/RFI process.
Public Safety Communications Evolution Brochure (2019) (.pdf 1.65 MB)
CISA updated this brochure in collaboration with SAFECOM and the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC), with the support and input of public safety officials to help educate the public safety community and elected and appointed officials about the future of emergency communications.
The T-Band Giveback: Implications for the Public Safety Community (.pdf, 212 KB)
This document provides the implications for the public safety community and the effects of the Public Law 112-96 to recover and auction T-Band spectrum.
Communications and Cyber Resiliency
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Public Safety Communications and Cyber Resiliency Toolkit
This is a collection of resources to assist public safety agencies and others responsible for communications networks in evaluating current resiliency capabilities, identifying ways to improve resiliency, and developing plans for mitigating the effects of potential resiliency threats.
Considerations for Public Safety Cloud Computing Adoption (.pdf, 432.44 KB)
Consisting of example consideration questions, this document guides public safety practitioners through adoption of cloud technology.
Cyber Resiliency Resources for Public Safety Fact Sheet (.pdf, 506 KB)
This fact sheet provides a non-comprehensive list of cyber resiliency resources available to public safety partners to help assess the cybersecurity and resiliency of mission-critical systems.
Cyber Risks to Land Mobile Radio - First Edition (.pdf, 740.28 KB)
This document is intended for use by public safety officials and managers to familiarize themselves with LMR systems, cyber risks to LMR systems, and best practices and recommendations to mitigate cyber threats to public safety communications.
Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (CSET®) Demonstration for Public Safety
A 90-minute CISA webinar for public safety organizations that demonstrates the Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (CSET®), and its specific application for emergency communications practitioners.
"First 48": What to Expect When a Cyber Incident Occurs (.pdf, 336 KB)
Developed in partnership with public safety officials who have experienced a cyberattack, this document is meant to highlight expectations and provide recommendations on how to proceed after experiencing a cyber incident.
Guide to Getting Started with a Cyber Risk Assessment (.pdf, 409 KB)
The document provides a description of commonly practiced risk assessment steps and customizable reference tables for organizations to identify and document personnel and resources involved with each step of the assessment.
Infrastructure Obstructions to Radio Propagation (.pdf, 520 KB)
This document aims to equip communications system planners and administrators with knowledge to better prepare for changes to existing infrastructure by highlighting potential obstructions (e.g., bridges, wind turbines, cranes) and providing examples of prevention and mitigation approaches.
Public Safety Communications Dependencies on Non-Agency Infrastructure and Services (.pdf, 1.04 MB)
This white paper provides several examples of infrastructure and service dependencies that public safety agencies might have on non-agency entities.
Communications Dependencies Case Studies
- Communications Dependencies Case Study: 2020 Midwest Derecho (.pdf, 363 KB)
This document provides emergency communications administrators with knowledge to better prepare for severe power outages impacting communications and work with commercial providers during and after inclement weather incidents. In addition to lessons learned, the document highlights key takeaways and communications dependencies best practices. - Communications Dependencies Case Study: Nashville Christmas Day Bombing (.pdf, 205 KB)
This document provides emergency communications administrators and public safety officials with knowledge to better prepare for severe communications outages impacting public safety operations and work with commercial providers during and after man-made disasters. In addition to lessons learned, the document highlights key takeaways and communications dependencies best practices.
Public Safety Communications Network Resiliency Self-Assessment Guidebook (.pdf, 2.35 MB)
This Guidebook provides instructions on how to assess resiliency of a public safety communications network, describes common critical resiliency gaps in public safety networks, proposes mitigation solutions for assured communications in stressed network environments, and demonstrates a proven methodology for data gathering, connectivity mapping, and analysis.
Public Safety Communications Resiliency: Ten Keys to Obtaining a Resilient Local Access Network (.pdf, 856 KB)
This document presents ten key steps organizations can follow to determine if local network infrastructure communication paths are sufficiently diverse to minimize communications outages.
Radio Frequency Interference Best Practices Guidebook (.pdf, 1.21 MB)
This white paper educates public safety organizations on RF interference threats and the implications they pose to public safety communications.
Resiliency Fact Sheet (.pdf, 578 KB)
This fact sheet introduces the topic of communications continuity and discusses the importance of network resiliency.
Risks to Public Safety: Ransomware Guide (.pdf, 380 KB)
This document provides an overview of how ransomware attacks function, the potential impact on emergency response operations, common cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and best practices to help secure public safety networks.
Emerging Technologies
The Internet of Things: Impact on Public Safety Communications (.pdf, 913 KB)
This white paper to provide guidance on how the community can use IoT-enabled devices to promote information sharing, collaboration, and training, while also addressing the associated cybersecurity, privacy, and system design considerations.
Public Safety Unmanned Aircraft System Resource Guide (.pdf, 340 KB)
This guide outlines multiple resources available to public safety communications stakeholders when developing a UAS program or deploying or encountering UAS in the public safety environment.
For more resources visit SAFECOM Resources or the SAFECOM homepage.