Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program
Project Description
SNAPSHOT
After years of effort, industry is incorporating standards into the radio and communications equipment used by public safety, but until now there was no independent method that purchasers can verify that the equipment is compliant with the standards.
Past research indicates that some radios currently sold under the P25 label do not, in fact, meet all of the standards’ requirements. To address this issue, the PSCR program, on behalf of DHS/OIC and COPS built a coalition of public safety users and communications equipment manufacturers to create an independent compliance assessment program to recognize laboratories that test equipment for standards compliance.
BACKGROUND
For several decades, public safety agencies have been purchasing and using equipment developed by disparate manufacturers and operating on disparate spectrum. As a result, this equipment often cannot interoperate, preventing many public safety agencies from communicating when responding to critical incidents that threaten lives and property.
“Today there are more digital radios in the P25 marketplace than ever before, and competitive pressures are reducing prices. Meanwhile, more agencies are acquiring two-way radio equipment that complies with the P25 standard. There are more sellers and buyers.” – Urgent Communications |
Public safety and industry have partnered through P25 on developing standards that allow radios and other components to interoperate regardless of manufacturer—enabling emergency responders to exchange critical communications. The goal of P25 is to specify formal standards for interfaces between the various components of a LMR system, commonly used by emergency responders. Until now, there was no compliance process in place where a laboratory could confirm that equipment, advertised by manufacturers as P25-compliant, adheres to critical components of the P25 suite of standards.
AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH
The P25 Compliance Assessment Program:
Is a voluntary program that allows P25 equipment suppliers to formally demonstrate their products’ compliance with a select group of requirements by testing it in recognized labs. (View approved SDoC documents here.)
Is a cost-effective solution. PSCR is working to recognize existing independent laboratories to conduct equipment testing rather than building a large centralized facility.
Is a partnership of PSCR, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Homeland Security’s CAP Governing Board, industry, and the public safety community.
Is an example of government undertaking a minimal investment that catalyzes industry and the community it serves to develop a solution that will affect billions of dollars in purchases.
VALUE TO PUBLIC SAFETY
The P25 CAP will provide the more than 60,000 emergency response agencies nationwide with a consistent and traceable method to gather P25 compliance information on the products they buy. This program, through grant guidance, provides a means of verifying that Federal grant dollars are being invested in standardized solutions and equipment that promote interoperability for the public safety community. The P25 CAP also generates manufacturer competition, resulting in more affordable technologies.
RESULTS
The P25 Compliance Assessment Program:
Impacts billions of dollars in purchases of public safety equipment to ensure that it improves interoperability.
Supports the migration from proprietary and stove-piped communications systems to open, standards-based infrastructure.
Ensures that emergency response technologies effectively meet the needs of practitioners in the field.
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Right-click Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program to save or download this one-page project summary PDF file.
For more information, contact: Andrew Thiessen. See also, P25 CAP Press and P25 CAP Documents.
