Texas unveils interoperable communications network
Sep 21, 2006 3:40 PM
Texas has implemented a fully interoperable communications service at Dallas Love Field that enables police, fire, federal agencies, private industry and airport personnel to communicate with each other over their existing networks and equipment.
The Dallas Love Field Wireless Integration Project is the result of a public-private partnership, giving the Dallas region interoperable network that uses secure voice, video and data communications for emergency response and critical infrastructure management.
"The vast majority of the police, fire and EMS personnel who serve as our frontline of defense still do not have one of the most basic resources they need to do their jobs: namely the ability to communicate easily and securely with one another," says Mark Tucker, CEO of CoCo Communications.
The company joined forced with the State of Texas, the City of Dallas, the Texas Congressional Delegation, the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to implement a service to meet the needs of first responders and the budget realities of local, state and Federal agencies and departments.
Using funds from DHS, the project was initiated with the goal of implementing the communications framework for a national interoperability service model that could be cost effectively duplicated in Texas and nationally.
The system that was ultimately approved and deployed is based on CoCo Communications' software, known as the CoCo Protocol, which 'rides' on top of existing network infrastructures. This makes two-way radios compatible with other radios and commonly deployed devices including cellular phones, laptops and PDAs by creating a common interface that can be shared by all available resources. CoCo's software creates a "mesh" architecture in which every device that accesses the network adds to the network, with each device acting as its own router.
Users securely access the service from end-user device interfaces, such as laptops or PDAs, where people can view video feeds and a customized information "ticker." At the same time, they are able to converse with their colleagues to share critical information during emergency situations or for normal day-to-day activities.
Current users and participants of the program include:
* City of Dallas Police, Fire and Aviation Departments;
* The State of Texas Departments of Public Safety and Health;
* U.S. Department of Homeland Security;
* U.S. Transportation Security Administration;
* U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;
* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
* U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and
* Southwest Airlines.
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