Future Trends and Directions 

The Environment 
Unmet Needs 

1. Standardization of RF effects ability to plan systems 

2. Lack of spectrum effects ability to deploy systems and
crossband capabilities for interoperability

3. Lack of coordinated planning among jurisdictions effects 
ability to share assets and interoperate with other agencies 


Factors for Interoperability 

-Systems integration to establish interim interoperability
solutions

-Regional coordination and formation of an interoperability 
governing board 

- Provides an outlet for multi-jurisdictional coordination, 
planning for interoperability during emergency response, 
and cost savings 

- Requires giving up control and opening system to other agencies 

- Requires a grassroots effort started at the local level 

- Suggestion: Federal government could require grant 
applications to be submitted by regional committees to 
drive governance 

New Ways to Address / What can we do? 

- Educate agencies and policy makers to interoperability issues 

- Share lessons learned 

- Increase staff funding to combat increasing workload for 
decreasing number of staff 

Impacts
How can industry assist us?
- Increase vendor competition 


- Make standards a reality 

- Share towers and sites 

- Conduct synchronization meetings with vendors (beta test 
products) 

- Have FPIC share technology findings with local and state 
agencies 


How to keep pace with technology? 

- Plan for equipment life cycle costs and build into budget 

- Purchase necessary equipment and features; “Leading Edge, 
Not Bleeding Edge” 

How to better manage technology and industry? 

- Develop an operational roadmap to plan for replacement of 
obsolete equipment

- Foster competition

- Set standards platform that vendors are forced to meet


Future
How does the Federal Government help?

- Provides funding and grant guidance 
- Develops standards 
- Drives development of multiband and other technologies 

What new requirements for wireless do you see in next 5 
years? 

- Long range broadband that covers rural areas 
- Satellite communications 
- More spectrum for data transfer 
- Technology roadmap, engineering and operations support 
- Frequency issues with FCC licensing and commercial providers
- Training for Incident Command
- Set proper expectations for technology capabilities



Will interoperability be better? 
- Everyone is working on interoperability and improves year-to-year 

- Lessons learned will be shared to improve operational 
policies/procedures 

- On-going activities will plan for interoperability, train 
operators and end users, and conduct drills to reinforce 
interoperable capabilities 

What prevents us from doing more? 

- Agencies have different agendas in which communications is 
a small aspect of daily missions

- Personnel spread to thin

- Limited resources