Radio Communication Radio Communication Problems in 2005 Problems in 2005 Related to Narrow Related to Narrow

Banding, and Resulting Banding, and Resulting NMAC StrategyNMAC Strategy

Radio Communication Radio Communication Problems in 2005 Problems in 2005 Related to Narrow Related to Narrow

Banding, and Resulting Banding, and Resulting NMAC StrategyNMAC Strategy

Martin MaricleMartin Maricle

AK-Division of ForestryAK-Division of Forestry

Originally presented By Dan Smith- NC Originally presented By Dan Smith- NC ForestryForestry

Fire Season 2005 Narrow Band Fire Season 2005 Narrow Band Radio Communications ConflictsRadio Communications Conflicts Fire Season 2005 Narrow Band Fire Season 2005 Narrow Band

Radio Communications ConflictsRadio Communications Conflicts

Fire fighter safety issuesFire fighter safety issues

Increasing number of reports Increasing number of reports concerning communication issues concerning communication issues through SAFENET and SAFECOM through SAFENET and SAFECOM prompted the National Multi-Agency prompted the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group (NMAC) to charter Coordinating Group (NMAC) to charter a Fire and Aviation Safety Team (FAST) a Fire and Aviation Safety Team (FAST) in August, 2005in August, 2005

Federal Mandate to NarrowbandFederal Mandate to NarrowbandFederal Mandate to NarrowbandFederal Mandate to Narrowband

Restructure of Federal Radio Frequency Restructure of Federal Radio Frequency Spectrum required federal agencies to transition Spectrum required federal agencies to transition to narrowband FM frequencies(162.0000 to to narrowband FM frequencies(162.0000 to 174.0000) by January 1, 2005. 174.0000) by January 1, 2005.

State and local governments: 2013State and local governments: 2013

NMAC Charters FASTNMAC Charters FASTNMAC Charters FASTNMAC Charters FAST

FAST to validate and elaborate on problems and reportFAST to validate and elaborate on problems and report

Interviewed 70 sourcesInterviewed 70 sources

Findings: Findings: -narrowband versus wideband conflicts-narrowband versus wideband conflicts

-users incorrectly using radios-users incorrectly using radios

-poorly maintained radios-poorly maintained radios

-federal agencies isolated from -federal agencies isolated from cooperatorscooperators

-unreliable communication systems -unreliable communication systems requiring workaroundsrequiring workarounds

Aviation Safety Technical Aviation Safety Technical Assistance Team (ASTAT)Assistance Team (ASTAT)Aviation Safety Technical Aviation Safety Technical

Assistance Team (ASTAT)Assistance Team (ASTAT)Aviation Safety Alert distribution almost Aviation Safety Alert distribution almost simultaneous with FAST reportsimultaneous with FAST report

Mixed narrowband and wideband frequenciesMixed narrowband and wideband frequencies

aircraft on wideband volume much louderaircraft on wideband volume much louder

wideband to narrowband signal becomes wideband to narrowband signal becomes choppy (inaudible at close range)choppy (inaudible at close range)

wideband to narrowband repeater results in wideband to narrowband repeater results in lock uplock up

NMAC Assigns Area Command NMAC Assigns Area Command TeamTeam

NMAC Assigns Area Command NMAC Assigns Area Command TeamTeam

Area Command Team 4 (Rounsaville)Area Command Team 4 (Rounsaville)

6 core team members of which 3 are state employees6 core team members of which 3 are state employees

First time an Area Command Team was mobilized for First time an Area Command Team was mobilized for a special assignmenta special assignment

Delegated to produce long and short term solutionsDelegated to produce long and short term solutions

Area Command Radio Area Command Radio Communication Review AssignmentCommunication Review Assignment

Area Command Radio Area Command Radio Communication Review AssignmentCommunication Review AssignmentResearch fact findingResearch fact finding

Validated the problem and FAST reportValidated the problem and FAST report

Produced Firefighter Safety Advisory for Produced Firefighter Safety Advisory for NMAC that was distributed August 24, NMAC that was distributed August 24, 20052005

Developed NMAC Group Strategic Plan for Developed NMAC Group Strategic Plan for Wildland Fire Radio CommunicationsWildland Fire Radio Communications

15 Action Items15 Action Items

Short and long termShort and long term

Strategic Plan and Action Items approved Strategic Plan and Action Items approved and supported by NMACand supported by NMAC

Reports on USFS Fire and Aviation Reports on USFS Fire and Aviation Management web siteManagement web site

Action ItemsAction ItemsAction ItemsAction Items

Fire Season 2005 Field TrainingFire Season 2005 Field Training

Interagency Communications Work Interagency Communications Work GroupGroup

Annual Electronic Equipment Annual Electronic Equipment Inspection and Testing ProtocolInspection and Testing Protocol

List of Narrowband compatible radiosList of Narrowband compatible radios

Action ItemsAction Items

Radio Problem Reporting SystemRadio Problem Reporting System

Annual Communications RefresherAnnual Communications Refresher

Radio Technical SupportRadio Technical Support

Distribution of Safety AlertsDistribution of Safety Alerts

Workload analysisWorkload analysis

Action Items continuedAction Items continuedAction Items continuedAction Items continued

Radio Management HierarchyRadio Management Hierarchy

Coordination with Fire DepartmentsCoordination with Fire Departments

State Forestry SurveyState Forestry Survey

Fireline Communications of the FutureFireline Communications of the Future

Standard Contract LanguageStandard Contract Language

Incident Radio CoverageIncident Radio Coverage

What’s Going on Now ?What’s Going on Now ?What’s been implemented?What’s been implemented?

What’s Going on Now ?What’s Going on Now ?What’s been implemented?What’s been implemented?

Fire Season 2005 field training - Fire Season 2005 field training - coordinated with GACCScoordinated with GACCS

More information on web sitesMore information on web sites http://radios.nifc.govhttp://radios.nifc.gov http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/

Implementation of NMAC Strategic PlanImplementation of NMAC Strategic Plan

Implementation of 15 Action ItemsImplementation of 15 Action Items

Radio Narrowband Radio Narrowband Implementation Task GroupImplementation Task Group

Radio Narrowband Radio Narrowband Implementation Task GroupImplementation Task Group

Chartered 11/17/05 by National Fire and Chartered 11/17/05 by National Fire and Aviation Executive Board and operates under Aviation Executive Board and operates under it’s authorityit’s authority

Implementation of short term recommendations Implementation of short term recommendations identified by Area Command Teamidentified by Area Command Team

State reps are Jim Lundsted (Missouri) and State reps are Jim Lundsted (Missouri) and Dave Dalrymple (Utah)Dave Dalrymple (Utah)

Assigned issues that must be addressed prior Assigned issues that must be addressed prior to 2006 fire seasonto 2006 fire season

RNITG ObjectivesRNITG ObjectivesRNITG ObjectivesRNITG Objectives

Develop training outline to improve Develop training outline to improve community knowledge of narrowbandcommunity knowledge of narrowband

Develop process for dissemination of Develop process for dissemination of information and feedbackinformation and feedback

Develop 2 tier training program for Develop 2 tier training program for communication techs and userscommunication techs and users

RNITG ObjectivesRNITG Objectives

Determine status of radios used in dispatch Determine status of radios used in dispatch to ensure correct configurationto ensure correct configuration

Develop and distribute a convention for the Develop and distribute a convention for the creation of frequency plans, ICS-205s, ICS-creation of frequency plans, ICS-205s, ICS-220s and aviation resource orders that 220s and aviation resource orders that designate narrowband / wideband status of designate narrowband / wideband status of a frequencya frequency

Radio Communications Task GroupRadio Communications Task GroupRadio Communications Task GroupRadio Communications Task Group

October 2005 NWCG and NMAC made October 2005 NWCG and NMAC made decision to charter The Radio decision to charter The Radio Communications Task Group under the Communications Task Group under the National Fire and Aviation Executive BoardNational Fire and Aviation Executive Board

Address long term wildland fire Address long term wildland fire communication issuescommunication issues

Improve coordination of federal, tribal, state Improve coordination of federal, tribal, state and local fire and aviation programsand local fire and aviation programs

Advisory role to NFAEB-monthly meetingsAdvisory role to NFAEB-monthly meetings

Don Artley represents NASFDon Artley represents NASF

USFS, BIA, BLM, Fish and Wildlife, NPS, USFS, BIA, BLM, Fish and Wildlife, NPS, NIICD, National IC/AC representativeNIICD, National IC/AC representative

National Task Force in D.C.National Task Force in D.C.National Task Force in D.C.National Task Force in D.C.

National “high level “ task force being assembled in National “high level “ task force being assembled in Washington D.C. to address interoperability issues Washington D.C. to address interoperability issues Fire, LE, Homeland SecurityFire, LE, Homeland Security

Result of Office of Inspector General Review of Result of Office of Inspector General Review of federal agency radio communication program, federal agency radio communication program, Assistant Secretary DOI review of NMAC Wildland Assistant Secretary DOI review of NMAC Wildland Fire Communication ReviewFire Communication Review

National Task Force in D.C.National Task Force in D.C.

Interoperability issues during 2005 hurricane Interoperability issues during 2005 hurricane responseresponse

Efforts to implement-plug in wildland fire Efforts to implement-plug in wildland fire communication issuescommunication issues

elevate to higher levelelevate to higher level

What does all this mean to state What does all this mean to state Forestry agencies?Forestry agencies?

What does all this mean to state What does all this mean to state Forestry agencies?Forestry agencies?

Lessons learned as states transition to Lessons learned as states transition to narrowbandnarrowband

Serious operational issuesSerious operational issues

Interoperability-analogue, digital, different bands, Interoperability-analogue, digital, different bands, trunking systems, etc.trunking systems, etc.

National VHF Interoperability FrequenciesNational VHF Interoperability Frequencies

Mitigation optionsMitigation options

Funding Support for Funding Support for Transition to NarrowbandTransition to Narrowband

Funding Support for Funding Support for Transition to NarrowbandTransition to NarrowbandAvailability of special federal funds not reliableAvailability of special federal funds not reliable

State Fire AssistanceState Fire Assistance

Volunteer Fire AssistanceVolunteer Fire Assistance

National Fire PlanNational Fire Plan

Homeland SecurityHomeland Security

FEMA All RiskFEMA All Risk

Radio Communication Problems in Radio Communication Problems in 2005 Related to Narrow Banding and 2005 Related to Narrow Banding and

Resulting NMAC StrategyResulting NMAC Strategy

Radio Communication Problems in Radio Communication Problems in 2005 Related to Narrow Banding and 2005 Related to Narrow Banding and

Resulting NMAC StrategyResulting NMAC Strategy

Short term and long term issuesShort term and long term issues

Progress being madeProgress being made

NMAC ensuring recommendations NMAC ensuring recommendations carried out and implementedcarried out and implemented

Task Forces / Work Groups ActiveTask Forces / Work Groups Active

Information available and under Information available and under development that will be helpful to statesdevelopment that will be helpful to states

Questions ????Questions ????