VERMONT COMMUNICATIONS VCOMM http:www'dps'state'vt'usneed

1
VERMONT COMMUNICATIONS (VCOMM)
http//www.dps.state.vt.us/need/

• November 2, 2005

2
Vision

• To create a Public Safety communications network
  throughout the State of Vermont capable of
  meeting the two-way voice and data needs of all
  first responders.
• To leverage homeland security funds, Federal
  earmarks and State and Local funding to reduce
  the construction financial burden on the first
  responder community within Vermont.

3
Specific Project Objectives

• Enhance radio coverage
• 97 percent portable in building coverage
• 97 percent voice pager coverage
• Local, Intrastate, Interstate and International
  Interoperability
• Mobile Data

4
Project Administrative Structure
5
Leadership Team

• VCOMM Steering Committee
• Chair Jim Colgan
• Vice Chair Neil Fulton
• Vice Chair Terry LaValley
• Sub Committee Chairs
• Roger Marcoux (Institutional /Governance)
• Paul Duquette (Operations)
• Al Barber (Technical)

6
Key Agenda Items

• Identify funding sources
• Meet ODP mandate of interoperability plan and
  create an exercise to test plan
• Statewide partnership with all stakeholders
• Police (State, Local, Sheriffs and Federal)
• Fire (Career, Paid-on-Call and Volunteer)
• EMS (Career, Paid-on-Call and Volunteer)
• DPS (Hazardous Materials and Emergency
• Management)
• Non Public Safety State and Local Agencies and
  Departments
• Dispatch (All Agencies)
• Private Industry (Utilities)

7
Potential Obstacles

• Limited Funding
• Competing Projects for Same Funding Sources
• Self Sufficiency of Some Public Safety First
  Responders
• State of Vermont Act 250 Requirements, Regional
  Planning and Local Zoning
• Vermonts Terrain and the impact on system
  coverage requirements

8
Potential Obstacles Continued

• Availability of Usable frequencies
• Natural tendencies to develop low cost work
  around solutions instead of long term global
  resolutions
• Incompatible systems
• Incorporation of existing systems into statewide
  system
• Desire for Local Control of communications
  systems by first responders
• The desire of first responders to migrate towards
  common communications platforms

9
Project Requirements

• Minimal financial impact on participating
  agencies
• Seamless integration of existing systems that
  meet developed standards
• Function with existing dispatch systems
• Dispatch needs will be addressed in the future.
  
• Provide Usable tools to the first responder No
  impact on existing dispatch in core community
  (push to talk voice and data)

10
Current Status

• The Vermont Communications Board (VCOMM) and
  three sub-committees has been established
• Initial Design and pricing has been reviewed, and
  scope of project has been modified to meet
  anticipated funding.
• The Steering Committee has reached consensus that
  a modified RFI should be released requesting
  design and pricing for a mobile two-way voice and
  data network meeting the 95 percent coverage
  requirements identified in the Telecommunications
  Industry Association (TIA) public safety
  standard. The design would provide mobile
  interoperability and be the foundation of a
  network capable of meeting the original vision
  when additional funding opportunities become
  available.
• Work has began on the modification of the RFI
  documents
• RFI should be released to potential vendors in
  November

11
Closing Comments

• This is your opportunity to guide the future of
  your communications network. Your comments and
  suggestions are necessary and appreciated.