The Department of Homeland Security was contacted upon grant approval for technical assistance with this objective. A group of consultants was sent as part of the federal Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program (IC TAP). The consultants have been working with three separate groups to develop this objective: The Technical Advisory Committee, the Operational Action Team, and the Governance Group.
The Technical Advisory Committee asked IC TAP to provide short, mid and long-term solutions. Specifically, the Technical Advisory Committee requested a recommendation regarding the replacement of the City of Oakland’s subscriber radios, methods to maximize existing infrastructure and assets, and steps to achieving a two-county interoperable communication system.
Members of the three advising committees and the Executive Board were invited to the presentation IC TAP provided to report their findings and recommendations. In their report, IC TAP found that the short, mid and long-term solutions are basically inseparable, that any short or mid-term solutions should support the long-term goal, and that system stakeholders should refrain from making purchases that will not be required in the next phase.
The following recommendations were made:
- Replace subscribers with verifiable P25 800-mhz trunked radios.
- Refrain from expending funds on any additional short-term efforts.
- Continue developing deployable tactical solutions and other solutions using existing equipment.
- Invest in a digital microwave system, without which we will be unable to move forward.
For additional information, please contact the Homeland Security Program Coordinator Susan F. Newton at (510) 238-2985 or snewton@oaklandnet.com.