DHS expands first responders technology assessment

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T’s) Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program (P25 CAP) has initiated an effort to perform third-party first responder equipment assessments.

The Department of Interior laboratory in Denver, Colorado, would perform Inter-RF Subsystem (ISSI) and Console Subsystem Interface (CSSI) conformance testing as part of the P25 CAP. The work provides responders with confidence their communications will be interoperable, regardless of the manufacturer.

“DHS S&T’s partnership with DOI addressed a critical lack of testing laboratories to conduct the ISSI and CSSI conformance testing,” Sridhar Kowdley, S&T program manager for P25 CAP, said. “This DHS-DOI partnership created significant cost savings by leveraging resources and capabilities of DOI laboratories. This lab, having been accredited, will make significant contributions to the P25 CAP. Their accreditation process and lessons learned will be used to assist other industry laboratory accreditations.”

DOI Chief Information Officer William Vajda said the agency’s commitment to accredited testing ensures interoperable LMR communications are available to support critical public safety operations.

“We appreciate the dedication and collaboration from DHS S&T and look forward to continuing our successful partnership,” he said.

Russ Sveda, DOI Radio and Spectrum program manager, said P25 ISSI/CSSI is critical for DOI moving forward.

“DOI operates several hundred P25/LMR systems across the 50 states and [U.S.] territories, and most public safety operations include state, local, and federal partners,” he said. “Interconnecting with partner LMR systems and national public safety broadband networks is key to modernizing our field communications and why this testing is so important to us.”