Listening to an interview on POTUS where the congressperson is talking about the lack of interoperability between USCP and MPD radio systems, bemoaning that this was supposed to be fixed 20 years ago after 9/11. I am surprised that an easy fix like dual band UHF / 700/800 (or tri) radios for every USCP officer has not been implemented. Perhaps it is time for an ISSI setup between the two agencies. Then we can talk about broader solution utilizing / upgrading WMATA or FIRST as a regional network. There is already a plan to put a FIRST site on Georgia Ave in the district.
January 6 anniversary
- Thread starter maus92
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The area had interoperability after Air Florida flight 90 crash. Several years later most public safety agencies in the DC area had full radio interoperability with each other. I said most because when you get involved with the federal government they usually don't want to cooperate with non federal agencies unless they thought up the idea first and can control everything. (soapbox off).
When some DC area agencies started talking ABOUT ENCRYPTION and implementing same it totally destroyed the interoperability that had been built in. You saw the effects of this when DC fire department went encrypted after the PD and then during mutual aid for a metro fire/smoke incident couldn't communicate with neighboring FD's on scene. Mayor Bowser ordered the encryption dropped the next day which it was (good for her). When they had the Navy Yard shooting, DC requested Fairfax County PD helicopter for operational support, but because DC is encrypted the Fairfax helicopter couldn't t communicate with the DC officers on scene. Encryption blows up everything!
So now Fairfax County PD radio's have the encryption keys for the agencies that are encrypted with a few exceptions. US Cap PD is one of the exceptions. There are a few others out there but encryption has hamstrung what once was the envy of public safety agencies around the country, when during 9/11 and the attack on the Pentagon all public safety agencies that responded had full radio interoperability because none of them were using encryption at that time!
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When some DC area agencies started talking ABOUT ENCRYPTION and implementing same it totally destroyed the interoperability that had been built in. You saw the effects of this when DC fire department went encrypted after the PD and then during mutual aid for a metro fire/smoke incident couldn't communicate with neighboring FD's on scene. Mayor Bowser ordered the encryption dropped the next day which it was (good for her). When they had the Navy Yard shooting, DC requested Fairfax County PD helicopter for operational support, but because DC is encrypted the Fairfax helicopter couldn't t communicate with the DC officers on scene. Encryption blows up everything!
So now Fairfax County PD radio's have the encryption keys for the agencies that are encrypted with a few exceptions. US Cap PD is one of the exceptions. There are a few others out there but encryption has hamstrung what once was the envy of public safety agencies around the country, when during 9/11 and the attack on the Pentagon all public safety agencies that responded had full radio interoperability because none of them were using encryption at that time!
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Encryption keys can be exchanged; the hardest part of encryption and interoperability is keeping the radio programming up to date in every subscriber. It is still very difficult in this region because of the number of agencies involved; at least almost all agencies are using Motorola infrastructure (excepting the active duty military). WRT the incident on January 6, the Feds are going to have to rethink their autonomy so supporting agencies and jurisdictions can painlessly roam onto their disparate systems. Certainly the radio infrastructure inside and on Capitol Grounds will need some enhancement (like adding 7/800) to support responding agencies. I can foresee a zone of Special Event or Tac channels that would have a rarely changing key programmed into every subscriber in the region. They will get the money if they ask for it. At least now the USCP seems to have a competent chief officer.
<s> If only there were conventional interoperability channels that everyone could use! </s>
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