Public Safety Communications - California

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Public Safety Communications2

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Boards &Committees4

Boards &CommitteesThe State 9-1-1 Advisory Board advises the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services regarding;1)Policies, practices, and procedures for the California 911 Emergency Communications Branch;2) Technical and operational standards for the California 911 system consistent with the NationalEmergency Number Association (NENA) standards;3) Training standards for county coordinators and Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) managers;4) Budget, funding, and reimbursement decisions related to the State Emergency Number Account;5) Proposed projects and studies conducted or funded by the State Emergency Number Account;6) Expediting the rollout of Enhanced 911 Phase II technology.5

Boards &CommitteesThe California First Responder Network Board (CalFRN) of Directors advises on matters pertaining to thefederal First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Board by;1)Coordinate with FirstNet and broadband service efforts;2) Provide recommendations that will improve the policies, practices, procedures, guidance anddirection for California’s participation in the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network;3) Review, arbitrate, and make final recommendations regarding unresolved issues on guidance, training,and federal compliance.6

Boards &CommitteesPublic Safety Radio Strategic Planning Committee (PSRSPC) addresses the need for public safetycommunications interoperability among the state’s public safety departments by:1)Developing and implementing a statewide integrated public safety communications system thatfacilitates interoperability among state public safety departments as well as other first responderagencies as the committee deems appropriate.2) Coordinating shared uses of public safety spectrum consistent with decisions and regulations of theFederal Communications Commission (FCC).7

FACTPublic Safety Communication’s (PSC) Radio and Technical ServiceBranch are self-supporting through a fee-for-service/cost recoverymodelThe California 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Branch isfunded through the State Emergency Telephone Number Account(SETNA)The Tactical Communication Division is funded through theEmergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG)

The Radio CommunicationsBranch99

1. Microwave System Maintenance2. Handheld Radios3. Mobile Radios4. Marine and Aviation5. Emergency Support6. Tower and Vault10

Public SafetyCommunication’s sites aredesigned to meet thecustomers’ uniqueoperational needs withconsideration to survivabilityshould a disaster occur.Emergency power andredundant equipment are allmajor factors during thedesign phase of acommunications system.11

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California citizens and governmentagencies depend upon the State’spublic safety telecommunicationsystems to conduct routine businessand obtain assistance duringemergencies.Public Safety Communications worksbehind the scenes to ensure thatthese essential systems are therewhen needed.13

Do you remember?Look how far we have come!Building better communications!14

Technical Services BranchThe Technical Services Branch (TSB)provides services to clients andstakeholders of Public SafetyCommunications (PSC) by developing andimplementing a strategic vision for theState’s public safety microwave network.15

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California's Microwave NetworkThe Public Safety Communications has ownedand operated the Statewide Public SafetyMicrowave Network (CAPSNET) for over 60years.The system provides reliable microwave circuitconnectivity for public safety agencies.Consisting of over 260 physical sites,approximately 300 microwave paths, thesystem carries over 1,300 circuits serving State,Federal, and County agencies and is made upof over 7,000 microwave air miles.17

The Public Safety Communications iscurrently upgrading the statewide microwavesystem to full digital microwave andimplementing a Multi-Protocol LabelSwitching platform to support newtechnologies such as: Long term evolutionHigh speed dataVoice over internet protocolExpand service to support additionalpublic safety customers beyond state firstresponders18

California 9-1-1EmergencyCommunicationsBranchThe goal of the Public SafetyCommunications 9-1-1 EmergencyCommunications Branch (CA 9-1-1)is to enable public safety answeringpoints (PSAPs) to provide expedienttelephone access to emergencyservices for all 9-1-1 emergencycallers by assisting PSAPs in theadministration and funding of thislifesaving resource in theircommunities.1919

erves as the statewideauthority and program manager for policy,technical and operational standarddevelopment of California’s 9-1-1 Systemsincluding:1. Management and oversight of the 9-1-1system2. Deployment of Next Generation 9-1-13. Text-to-9-1-14. Manage the State Emergency TelephoneNumber Account5. First Responder Network and BroadbandServices6. Emergency Function 2 and StatewideInteroperability Coordination20

FirstNet works directly with the states to plan and buildthe nationwide public safety network in each state.In California, the Governor’s Office of EmergencyServices (Cal OES) leads the planning and effort forFirstNet.Cal OES has established a Broadband Services Division(CalBSD) within the 9-1-1 Emergency CommunicationsBranch as well as the California First ResponderNetwork Authority (CalFRN) Board.The CalBSD team is actively engaged in public outreachto provide updated information regarding broadbanddeployment in California.21

While the existing 9-1-1 system has been a success storyfor more than 40 years, it has been stretched to its limitin the present environment. Unfortunately, it was neverenvisioned that the current 9-1-1 system would receivecalls and data from new and emerging technologies asdiverse as what we see today.Next Generation 9-1-1 will allow for capabilities such aslocation based routing, policy based routing anddynamic call routing between Public Safety AnsweringPoints (PSAPs).Applications like text, video, and photos along withcontinual advancements in communications technologycreate the desire for a more advanced system to accessemergency care.22

The California 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Branch, in concertwith all public safety agencies in the State, is dedicated to providingits citizens and its visitors with the best emergency servicespossible.23

TSB’s goal is to provide technical support and consultation to all public safetycommunications entities and to provide a secure digital microwave network for theState’s public safety communications systems and first responders.TSB will leverage existing infrastructures,utilize new and current technologies toimprove operability, interoperability andadvance communications capabilities foreach public safety client agency.24

Tactical Communications DivisionWithin Cal OES, the responsibility for managing Interoperabilitychannels is coordinated by the Cal OES TelecommunicationsDivision (TCOMM) within Public Safety Communications.25

Tactical Communications DivisionThe Tactical Communication Division(TCOMM) is made up of six RegionalCommunications Coordinators andcadre of 80 Communications Reserves.Our team supports CalOES branchesincluding Fire, Law and regions as wellas other partnering state agenciesWe provide subject matter expertiseon all aspects of communicationsincluding planning, mitigationstrategies and customized solutions toaddress missions as they develop within a disaster or emergency.

Tactical Communications MissionTo provide reliable interoperablecommunications solutions to our clients andpartners ensuring efficient management ofdisasters and emergencies that occur in thestate.27

TCOMM supports locals, State andfederal partners with disasteremergency communications solutions.

TacticalCommunications Assets Mobile Interoperable Gateway unit (MIGU) Communications Trailers Communications Vans Satellite Fly Away Kits Handheld Satellite Caches Handheld Radio Caches Tactical Repeaters Cell Phones

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communications entities and to provide a secure digital microwave network for the State’s public safety communications systems and first responders. TSB will leverage existing infrastructures, utilize new and current technologies to improve operability, interoperability and advance communications capabilities for each public safety client agency.