Project 25

Project 25 is a program of joining the efforts of private communications industry and government in the task of improving interoperability of communications in emergency services. Beginning in 1999, this joint effort began developing standard requirements for wireless digital communications systems for use in emergency services. The basis for these standards is the requirement that communications systems be interoperable regardless of the hardware manufacturer.

According the a Government Accountability Office report, there are "Approximately 2.5 million emergency response personnel, working for 50,000 agencies, working across jurisdictional boundaries, using separate radio systems, operating on different frequencies." (GAO-04-494). The events of September 11, 2001 and Hurricane Katrina have only magnified the difficulties in interagency communications for emergency services in the United States.

Some of the most important requirements of P25 radio systems are:

• System and equipment interoperability between manufacturers.
• Affordable equipment prices. (Handheld radios <$500.00 per unit)
• Minimum standardized battery strength and length of use. (Minimum 8 hours for a handheld radio)
• User-friendly hardware interface.
• Four-level encryption:
  • Type 1 is for classified national government communication.
    Type 2 is for unclassified national security-related communications.
    Type 3 is for unclassified sensitive government communications. (e.g., Public Safety).
    Type 4 is for other purposes, (e.g., exportable).
• Ability to communicate in conventional (analog), digital, or trunked modes.
• Each manufacturers system shall provide for backward compatibility with those manufacturers existing analog systems to facilitate a graceful and gradual migration from the old analog to the new digital.
• The system shall have over-the-air programming to enable making software change to mobile and portable subscriber units. (Standards requirements from: NEW TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS PROJECT DIGITAL RADIO TECHNICAL STANDARDS - P25.1.UN.(99)72)

*The Government Accountability Office has recommended that beginning in fiscal year 2006, Federal Preparedness grant guidelines for the acquisition of communication equipment include that all requirement meet Project 25 standards.

LINKS / REFERENCES

SAFECOM http://www.safecomprogram.gov/SAFECOM/

PROJECT 25 Interest Group http://www.project25.org/

PROJECT SAFECOM Report by the Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04494.pdf

NEW TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS PROJECT - DIGITAL RADIO TECHNICAL STANDARDS http://www.project25.org/pages/files/APCO111099.pdf

-- KyleWilliams - 26 Nov 2005