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6/12/19

iCERT New Cloud Working Group Releases First in Series of White Papers on Relevant Public Safety-to-Cloud Topics June 10, 2019. This iCERT Cloud Working Group paper is part of a continuing series of iCERT publications, webinars, public events, and other efforts intended to provide public safety agencies with guidance for evaluating decisions related to the acquisition, maintenance, and operation of such technologies. To make information more digestible, this and subsequent Working Group papers will focus on just one or two issues related to cloud technologies. This paper provides a suggested framework for evaluating the choice between a local on-premises data center facility, or a remote data center (hosted or cloud), based on two criteria: reliability and security. Working from a foundation of these criteria offers public safety agencies a simple method of evaluating a data center to determine its adherence to public safety grade infrastructure regardless of whether it is modeled on cloud computing, remotely hosted, or an on-premises solution. Although each data center has unique requirements and is incomplete without being interconnected between data centers and users, for brevity, this paper does not include an evaluation of the network’s role in interoperability, performance, and scalability. An analysis of networking will be reserved for a future paper.

June 7, 2019 Seattle, WA – The Text-911 Translation TechFest was a technology innovation demonstration designed to encourage nationwide efforts to improve technologies to support public safety communications and response. The program engaged public safety practitioners and solution providers to help first responders improve the safety of communities nationwide. The TechFest team included the IJIS Institute; the Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies (iCERT); Language Line, Language Service Provider (LSP); AGENT511, INdigital and RapidDeploy, PSAP text translation service providers; and Google the leading supplier of Machine Translation (MT) solutions. West Public Safety and Comtech both provided the capability to deliver a text from the wireless carriers to the PSAPs. The RedFlash Group, our media partner, chronicled the event and conducted interviews of participants. When DHS S&T and IJIS began the project in February of 2015, less than three percent of the nation’s 6,000 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), also known as 911 call centers, had implemented Text-to-911. Since then, not only has the number of PSAPs using the platform increased to 30 percent, but federal, state, and local laws have required call centers to ensure that the platform is available to the Limited English Proficient (LEP) population. Currently, almost 28 million people across the United States are identified as LEP and need to be accommodated as more PSAPs implement the technology in their respective communities. “We anticipate the end result of this joint project will be a national standard for implementing Text-to-911 to LEP populations as well as operational, business, and training protocols that will ensure consistent national implementation,” said DHS S&T program manager Denis Gusty. The TechFest provided insight to the advancements in currently available translation technology and also highlighted restrictions in translation, such as colloquial terminology and text shorthand. Overall, the TechFest revealed the need for further research and development to ensure 911 calls are answered efficiently and first responders are provided the correct information to respond. Presently, DHS S&T and IJIS are researching best practices as well as interviewing experts in emergency communication, next generation 911 technology and public safety to develop standards that will be implemented nationally. DHS S&T and IJIS anticipate pilot tests with Arlington and Prince William counties in Virginia to test the protocols as well as determine estimated costs of nationwide implementation. These test pilots will begin in late summer of 2019 Media Coverage PoliceOne https://www.policeone.com/police-products/communications/press-releases/481960011-text-to-911-techfest-hosted-on-google-campus/ FireRescue1 https://www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/communications/press-releases/392535017-text-to-911-techfest-hosted-on-google-campus/ EMS1 https://www.ems1.com/ems-products/communications/press-releases/392740049-text-to-911-techfest-hosted-on-google-campus/ CorrectionsOne https://www.correctionsone.com/products/communications/press-releases/480771195-text-to-911-techfest-hosted-on-google-campus/ Articles: · Critical Communications Review · Mission Critical Communications

NTIA is announcing a new searchable database of 50 federal broadband programs, with billions of dollars for broadband grants, loans and other resources. 6/4/19 https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/new-fund-search

The President honors the best and bravest of America's public safety officers with the Medal of Valor at a 5/22/19 White House ceremony. Link to remarks - https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-public-safety-officer-medal-valor-ceremony/

"911 Data & Information Sharing - A Strategic Plan" is intended to establish a framework for bringing five goals forward that support routine sharing of 911 data and enhanced data-driven decision making as it relates to administrative, operational, and technical factors of 911 planning, management, and delivery. Released 5/23/19

Congratulations to all APCO Public Safety Communications Leadership in Policy Awards Winners - https://leadersdinner.apcointl.org/ Thank you for your efforts in support of Public Safety.

May 22, 2019 H.R.2741 Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow's America Act To rebuild and modernize the Nation’s infrastructure to expand access to broadband and Next Generation 9–1–1, rehabilitate drinking water infrastructure, modernize the electric grid and energy supply infrastructure, redevelop brownfields, strengthen health care infrastructure, create jobs, and protect public health and the environment, and for other purposes. Details on the hearing - https://republicans-energycommerce.house.gov/hearings/lift-america-modernizing-our-infrastructure-for-the-future-h-r-2741-the-leading-infrastructure-for-tomorrows-america-act/

Public safety hopeful that Congress will consider legislation for NG911 May 15, 2019 Three important legislative actions potentially providing for NG911 funding have been introduced in Congress. Information to the bills and links to follow their progress on Congress.gov provided below. S.1479 To further deployment of Next Generation 9–1–1 to enhance and upgrade the 9–1–1 systems of the United States, and for other purposes. Senators Klobuchar & Masto introduce NG911 grants legislation (5/15/19). https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1479?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22klobuchar%22%5D%7D&s=4&r=9 H.R.2760 To further deployment of Next Generation 9–1–1 to enhance and upgrade the 9–1–1 systems of the United States, and for other purposes. Representatives. Eshoo & Shimkus introduce House companion bill https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2760/cosponsors?q={%22search%22:[%22eshoo%22]}&r=6&s=6&searchResultViewType=expanded&KWICView=false H.R.2741 Representative Pallone. To rebuild and modernize the Nation’s infrastructure to expand access to broadband and Next Generation 9–1–1, rehabilitate drinking water infrastructure, modernize the electric grid and energy supply infrastructure, redevelop brownfields, strengthen health care infrastructure, create jobs, and protect public health and the environment, and for other purposes. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2741/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22HR2741%22%5D%7D&r=1&s=2 Join Us! www.theindustrycouncil.org

(5/15/19) President Trump signs Executive Order - "Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain." - prohibits certain transactions involving information and communications technology or services. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-securing-information-communications-technology-services-supply-chain/ …

Free DHS / iCERT Exclusive Webinar - Link to Video of May 16, 2019 webinar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzWmcqKJOrI " What Audrey" A.I. Means to You" - LIVE Webinar - Thursday, May 16, 2019 - 1:30PM EDT In the first of its kind live webinar, and the first collaboration between iCERT and DHS, the AUDREY expert at DHS responded directly to questions submitted by iCERT members regarding the AUDREY public safety AI system. Assistant for Understanding Data through Reasoning, Extraction, and Synthesis (AUDREY) is a state-of-the-art human-like reasoning system designed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and S&T. This TechTalk is a Q&A with questions submitted by the Industry Council for Emergency response Technologies (iCert). These questions serve as an excellent learning platform for anyone interested in AUDREY. AI is at a critical moment in its development and in its potential contribution to public safety, and iCERT’s members, and the Industry, must be alert to how best integrate this upcoming technology. iCERT is grateful to DHS for cooperating on this unique and groundbreaking event.

(5/15/19) Rep. Pallone has introduced an infrastructure bill, H.R.2741 - "To rebuild and modernize the Nation's infrastructure to expand access to broadband and Next Generation 9-1-1..." https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2741