U.S. Department of Justice 
Wireless Interoperability Conference
National Institute of Justice 
2 May 2005 



CommTech Overview 

• CommTech Areas of Focus 
• Solicitation Process 
• CommTech Technical Working Group


CommTech Overview


Mission: To assist state and local public 
safety agencies to effectively and efficiently 
communicate with one another across 
agency and jurisdictional boundaries. 


Research and Development Impacts 

Goal: Research and development of emerging 
technologies required for interoperable 
communications 

• Software Defined Radio 
• Cognitive Radio 
• Voice over IP 
• Advanced Wireless Data 


Test & Evaluation Impacts 

Goal: Test and evaluate technology platforms to 
provide unbiased information to the public safety 
community 

• Conduct functional review 
• Perform technical evaluation/testing 
• Perform operational evaluation/testing 
• Publish T&E reports on products and operational test results 


Pilot Programs 

Goal: Provide a demonstration of cutting edge technologies 
in an operational environment to the Law Enforcement 
community 

• Metropolitan Interoperable Radio Systems (MIRS) 
• Capital Wireless Integrated Network (CAPWIN) 
• Syracuse PD Wireless Data 
• Radio Interoperability for Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs) 


Standards Impacts 

Goal: To assist the development of 
standards that improves technology 
availability, cost, reliability & 
Interoperability 

•P25 
• Voice over IP 
• Software Defined & Cognitive Radio
• Mesa – Digital Mobile Broadband 


Outreach & Tech Assistance Impacts 

Goal: Provide unbiased information to the public safety 
community on communication technology related issues 

• Fund the CAPRAD system 
• Support to first tactical operations 
• Outreach 
– Conferences 
– Publications 
• Executive Technology Briefs 



CommTech Technical Working Group 

• Practitioner Driven 
• Meeting 14-15 April 2005
• Input to LECTAC 


Solicitation Process 

• Concept Papers 
• Invitations for full proposals
• Solicitation panels 
• Brief senior management 
• Grant selection 



Conclusion 

• Technical assistance experience in working w/ many 
different types of LE agency 

• Continued outreach to all sizes of agencies and 
departments 

• Technical capabilities of the NLECTC system 
– Air Force Research Lab, Rome, NY 
– Aerospace Corporation 
– University of Denver 

• 
Tight coupling to issues related to information sharing 
and Global Justice XML 



CommTech Contact Info 

Program Manager 
Joe Heaps 
202-841-2563 

joseph.heaps@usdoj.gov