Recently one of INPUT's Homeland Security analysts appeared on Homeland Security Television in a segment entitled, "Ghosts in the Machine," hosted by Dan Verton. The program discussed the issues surrounding true interoperable public safety communications and predicted the more than 100,000 emergency response organizations across the U.S. would not achieve true interoperability until 2023, almost two decades after 9/11. A lack of standards, federal leadership, intergovernmental cooperation and political will have been blamed, though some improvements have been made.

While technology may be the easy part of the puzzle, it is still important. INPUT forecasted last year that state and local governments will spend over $5.5 billion on public safety interoperable communication between 2007 and 2012. In fact, INPUT is tracking nearly 200 pre-solicitation public safety communications opportunities valued at over $3.4 billion and most of them include some federal funding from various grant programs described below:

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)

State applications for the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) were due last week. This year HSGP includes four interconnected grants and will distribute over $1.6 million in funding for emergency preparedness and response:

Any portion of HSGP that allows equipment purchases in the purpose of the grant may fund equipment in 21 categories on the Authorized Equipment List (AEL), including interoperable communications equipment of the following types:

• Digital cell phones
• Data and messaging services
• Satellite phones
• Satellite data services
• Priority services
• Land-mobile radios and bases
• Bridging, patching, gateways and other related equipment
• Other land-mobile radio equipment
• Wide area networks
• Wire-line communications
• Communications security (COMSEC) support equipment

There are several other grant programs that may be used to fund interoperable communications:

Interoperable Communications Equipment Grant

HB 1, Implementing the Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, authorized and the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution appropriated funds for the creation of a new grant program dedicated solely to interoperable public safety communications. The objective of the new grant program is to fund demonstration projects that explore the use of equipment and technology to increase interoperability among fire service, law enforcement, and emergency medical service personnel. The grant guidance for 2008 indicates federal funds may be used for planning and management activities, equipment acquisitions and training and exercises and provides detailed functional requirements for the eligible communications equipment and technologies. Like the one-time only Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grant, applicants must have submitted a statewide communications interoperability plan to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP)

This grant program provides federal assistance to enhance regional response capabilities and interoperable communications by providing technology and equipment to public safety agencies in smaller jurisdictions. CEDAP awards are not monetary as DHS provides the equipment or technical assistance directly to the recipient. DHS anticipates the application process for 2008 will begin sometime this month. Interoperable communications vendors will want to monitor the types of equipment governments receive through this assistance program as those jurisdictions will be prospects for additional equipment and services as they continue down the path of true interoperability.

Assistance to Firefighters (AFG)

The AFG program and application guidance for 2008 was released in February. $560 million is available this federal fiscal year and awards will be made in several rounds throughout the year. AFG funds may be used for regional projects designed to facilitate interoperable communications and efficiency among the participating governments.

Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program

The JAG program is managed by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system including law enforcement, prosecution and courts, prevention and education, corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, crime victim and witness programs, and technology improvement. It is a formula grant program and 40% of the funds must be directed to local units of government. Applications were due to DOJ in January, but 2008 award announcements have not yet been made.

Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS)

The Consolidated Appropriations Resolution provided over $320 million for several priorities covered under COPS. In 2008, over $205 million will be available for law enforcement technology, which can be used for public safety interoperable communications. The request for applications has not yet been released for this portion of the program. However, the Tribal Resources Grant Program (TRGP) grant guidance was released last month. Applications are due on June 13, 2008. All Indian tribes that are federally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) that have police departments are eligible. $15 million is available this year under this comprehensive program that funds officer background investigations, law enforcement training, uniforms, basic issue equipment (such as radios), department-wide technology and vehicles.

Communications Technology (CommTech)

The Communications Technology grant program is managed by the National Institute of Justice. Applications for 2008 grant funds were due last November. Awardees will research develop and evaluate emerging communication technology solutions for criminal justice agenices. The areas of interest are: 1) cellular detection, location, isolation and defeat, 2) locator technologies for personnel and equipment assets, 3) software defined radio (SDR) technology, 4) cognitive radio technology, 5) in-building communications coverage technologies, 6) alternative technologies for interconnection of repeater sites for voice that also enable wireless data services, 7) non terrestrial technologies (satellite and airborne), and 8) mobile hybrid technology for wireless broadband data. Over $54 million was distributed under this program in federal fiscal year 2007.

For more details on the federal grants which may be used to fund interoperable communications acquisitions, state public safety communications governance, state and local program offices and links to statewide communications plans and roadmaps, check out INPUT's Homeland Security or Justice/Public Safety Vertical Profiles.

While the United Kingdom increased the number of CCTV units across the country drastically, crime did not decrease nearly as much as the Police had hoped. This begs the question: Are CCTV systems worth the money and the added personnel needed to monitor them?

The UK will be implementing new aspects to their already extensive network in order to create a database of images taken from live feeds which can then be taken to identify offenders. Images of individuals suspected of crimes will be uploaded to an online directory, allowing those with an internet connection to identify possible criminals with ease. These types of upgrades are essential if the Police expect the CCTV network to function as a means of catching criminals.

Another major issue with the UK CCTV network, that may be something to consider for United States' CCTV systems, is the use of these images in a court of law. Initially the cameras were seen as a preventative measure, but the Police must go a step further and use these images in court. Training of additional officers to use the new equipment is a daunting task, and some officers may see the new technology as unnecessary. As new technologies replace old systems in the United States, training is a very important issue and one which requires acceptance on the part of the Police and willingness to conduct the training by the supplying vendors.

Further development of new software to use and make the images captured discernable will effectively make a CCTV network more useful and increase the likelihood of catching criminals. Additional use of biometric technologies and large databases shared among various departments will likely be seen in the near future. As these technologies are perfected, they will become an integral part of the CCTV systems and networks. The United Kingdom's implementation of thousands of CCTV units serves as a case study for the United States and will enable state and local governments to see what systems work and what systems have failed. As more localities seek these systems, vendors can be on call, ready to provide systems that fit the needs of the locality and basing some decisions on the British model will be unavoidable.

Overall, CCTV networks are essential to crime prevention, but as these networks become common place in the United States, there will be many obstacles in implementation. Often times, localities view CCTV systems as intrusive and unnecessary. While small scale CCTV networks may have limited capacity to catch criminals, increasing the network size and determining ways to establish databases that connect cities, counties and even states will make them worthwhile in the long run.

Even though Colorado is one of 23 states that are projecting revenue shortfalls in 2009, Governor Ritter's signs a budget bill that raises state spending by 6% and adds 1,334 new employees to the state payroll. Building Blocks for Health Care Reform gets funded as do several other technology projects.

Yesterday Governor Bill Ritter signed the fiscal 2009 budget into law. It increases general fund spending by 6%, or $431 million, and adds 1,334 new state employees. Meanwhile, legislative economists predict a decrease in revenues of $693 million over the next 5 years.

Several lawmakers seemed unhappy with the process this year, which included much partisan bickering, but little change. Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) said, "I think it's time we upgrade the budget process, Colorado Budget 2.0." The Joint Budget Committee spend months putting the budget together but the House and Senate have only two weeks to debate and pass the budget bill. Gardner suggested moving to a biennial budget cycle.

So what's in it for technology vendors?

• Department of Corrections -- $54,369 to enable the Parole Board to convert its paper-intensive decision process to electronic documents which can be security signed and transmitted.
• Office of the Governor -- $349,353 to acquire components and software to mitigate critical network security risks through centrally managed firewalls, intrusion detection systems and antivirus protection.
• Department of Health Care Policy and Financing -- $5.5 million to begin the process of centralized eligibility determinations that will streamline the Medicaid and CHP+ application process.
• Department of Public Health and Environment -- $654,000 to operate and enhance the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS).
• Department of State -- $749,846 for information security related activities, $900,000 for administering voting systems certification and $520,000 to replace the department's outdated accounting system to better process applications received electronically
• Department of Personnel and Administration -- $7.9 million for the Digital Trunked Radio System so that counties on the Western Slope can obtain needed software and system upgrades.
• Department of Public Safety -- $1.2 million for the new Alamosa Troop Office Regional Communications Center. Part of this capital expanse will be used to relocate and update the existing radio infrastructure.
• Department of Revenue -- $7.8 million for the Colorado Integrated Tax Architecture (CITA), which replaces the current tax system with a single, integrated system.

Also included in the budget was $25 million for the governor's Building Blocks for Health Care Reform package, which includes several technology initiatives including centralized eligibility determination for Medical and CHP+, the state's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the web-based Report Card on Health Insurance Companies.

Still to be enacted is the the Colorado IT Consolidation Plan, which is SB 155.

Last June, Shane Harris of Government Executive.com wrote an article titled, "Homeland Security could face transition problem." In it he described an election night party held by top DHS officials. At one point in the evening, when it seemed like Sen. Kerry could take the Presidency, he describes a sudden realization among the group that DHS had no transition plan. Who was going to keep the department running until the new administration came in?

Fast forward to 2008. DHS contracted with the Council for Excellence in Government to help develop a transition plan, Secretary Chertoff assembled an Administration Transition Task Force, and DHS recently announced that career civil servants have been named to acting posts within those components that have political appointees running the show.

It sounds like a lot of progress has been made since that night in 2004. Why then is the House Homeland Security Committee threatening to subpoena DHS for its transition documents? DHS' Acting Deputy Secretary Paul Schneider appeared before lawmakers, telling them that DHS' plan was better developed than any other agency. Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson and Rep. William Pascrell would beg to differ, but seeing comprehensive transition plans could put the matter to rest.

DHS provided the Committee with a 7-page presentation outlining the department's transition plans. Pascrell and Thompson have given DHS until May 23 to submit all of the documents, including program information, budget projections, and any other transition planning information.

Considering the fact that governments are highly vulnerable to terrorist attacks during a change in leadership, the resistance to information sharing is puzzling.

Accessing and managing multiple information systems, managing the inflows of data and obtaining funding for operations lead the way for problems with state fusion centers, but these are just growing pains.

On April 17, Jack Tomarchio, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis gave a testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration, "Focus on Fusion Centers: A Progress Report". This testimony coincided with the Government Accountability Office releasing its new report on Fusion Centers, "Federal Efforts Are Helping to Address Some Challenges Faced by State and Local Fusion Centers".

In Tomarchio's testimony, reported that DHS' Office of Intelligence and Analysis now has 23 officers deployed and serving in fusion centers The role of these officers, according to Tomarchio, is to provide their other federal, state, local, and tribal partners with the information and skills necessary to cull the best of what the fusion centers are collecting and analyzing and ensure that this information gets to the appropriate people. Tomarchio also reported that the Homeland Security Data Network (HSDN) is now deployed in 19 fusion centers. A further area of progress cited was streamlining of the clearance process to obtain federal information.

While Tomarchio was promoting the progress of Fusion Centers, the GAO report commented on the problems that the fusion centers still need to address. Forty-three fusion centers were operational as of September and another 15 are in development (For a detailed description of states fusion centers, please visit INPUT's State Intelligence Fusion Center Profiles. The centers are receiving federal assistance from the Homeland Security and Justice departments and from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Fusion center officials cited challenges accessing and managing multiple information systems as well as having a hard time managing the inflows of data. Officials in 30 of the 58 centers reported challenges related to volume of information or managing multiple systems, which limits the ability to receive and share information with those who need it. Other issues surrounding the fusion centers included: lack of training; available to meet specific missions; problems with obtaining and using security clearances, with hiring appropriate personnel; and with obtaining funding for operations.

In Pennsylvania, Gov. Ed Rendell is expediting a plan to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike to the highest bidder. The plan includes a 75-year lease to a private consortium, which may be a foreign company. If this lease is completed, will outsourcing our toll roads become a trend across the United States?

Any plan of such magnitude and significance is unlikely to be sought without opposition, and it appears, in this case, that the resistance is coming from within Gov. Rendell's own party. Democratic Representative Joe Markosek, chairman of the Transportation Committee, opposes the lease. Despite the opposition, Rep. Markosek favors placing tolls on Interstate 80, a bill which he sponsored.

State lawmakers insist that Gov. Rendell release additional information on the bidders, not just the name and bid from the highest offer. Furthermore, legislators seek additional discourse and "extensive hearings throughout the state" before the mid-June vote that Gov. Rendell is seeking. Many view the mid-June vote as unreasonable and require additional time to sort out the details of the lease.

The turnpike is managed by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, which would soon be obsolete, putting many out of jobs, some of whom are friends and relatives of politicians. While this may be a hard pill to swallow, it will provide long term assurance that the turnpike will be kept safe and at the same time, generate approximately $12-18 billion dollars for the state. The state is in desperate need of funds to improve nearly 6,000 structurally deficient bridges and state-owned highways that are in poor condition.

While to some, leasing such an important road to a foreign entity seems irrational in the short term; in the long term, such a move would benefit the state greatly. The move will provide the state with much needed funding for road improvement. As we have seen with the recent Minneapolis bridge collapse, more attention is needed on roads and bridges throughout the country. Leasing the road to a private, and possibly foreign, consortium is the first step in establishing a new means of obtaining funding to fix America's ailing highway system. In the future, we may see more state's jumping on the leasing bandwagon, providing safer roads for everyone.

New York enacted its budget for 2009 just 8 days after the fiscal year began, a remarkable achievement after the extraordinary resignation of Eliot Spitzer. State spending will increase 5% over 2008 and 2,000 new state employees will be added during the next fiscal year.

The $122 billion budget should make almost every constituency happy, including technology vendors. Completely ignored was the looming deficit. Governor Paterson, in a speech at a recent Association for a Better New York (ABNY) meeting, vowed to do better next year.

Only three technology projects mentioned in former governor Spitzer's recommended budget were not funded. Sadly, in light of the secretive nature of the recent budget negotiations, one of those projects appears to be the expansion of Project Sunlight, which was created in 2007 and combines several state databases into a single web site. But, back to the good news; here are a few of the projects that got funded:

• Enterprise Technology Solutions -- $129.2 million may be allocated to other state agencies to achieve the implementation of enterprise technology applications, but only if the agencies agrees to use the new statewide financial management system.
  
  
• Consolidated Data Center -- $99.1 million for services and expenses related to the construction, lease or purchase of a consolidated data center facility.
  
  
• Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) -- $95.7 million for the operation of the current MMIS system and the development and operation of a replacement system. The current fiscal agent contract is held by CSC.
  
  
• Statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System (SAFIS) Replacement -- $24 million for fingerprint identification technologies that advance the detection and prevention of crime.
  
  
• Health Information Technology Program -- $3 million for health information technology, which will include the Interoperable Health Information Exchange project.

For more information on all of the technology projects mentioned in the 2009 budget, INPUT members may refer to the New York State Government Profile.

This week Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff likened the National Cyber Security Initiative to the Manhattan Project. Also this week, DHS finished what could be called the Trinity Test of the Cyber Initiative, an exercise known as Cyber Storm II. A full after action analysis won't be completed until the end of summer, but early reports indicate that the results were mixed. Ten chemical companies took part in the simulated attacks which highlighted the many of the management and governance issues that will arise between the government and private organizations that will make this national defense priority different from any before it.

DHS watchers should check out this fact sheet released Tuesday which details the DHS's initiatives and programs. Most interesting are the new National Cyber Security Center and the efforts within US-CERT, which has a FY09 budget request of $109 MM, 42% higher than the FY08 appropriation. 80% of these dollars are slated for hardware and software, with another 10% for services.

However, like the original Manhattan Project, the Cyber Initiative will involve many parties beyond DHS, including DNI and the Air Force Cyber Command. Additionally, at this week's INPUT Federal Breakfast, Navy CIO Robert Carey indicated that he spends much of his time focused on security matters and expects significant involvement in the Comprehensive National Cyber Initiative. Robert indicated that more information will be forthcoming -- stay tuned.

Knowing what to do when in case of an emergency is nothing new, but they way in which citizens get the information has changed.

The City of Philadelphia recently implemented a text messaging system for pertinent information needed during an emergency. The system is part of the new trend to bring together one of America's popular technology fad with evacuation procedures in case of a chemical explosion or a terrorist attack.

With nearly everyone owning a cell phone or a blackberry, this new way of discerning that a disaster is imminent allows people to get instant information on where to go, what to do and how to do it. The system is not just a city wide alert system, but a county by county alert notification. Each of the five major counties in the Philadelphia area has their own text message codes, as evacuation procedure may differ depending on location and access to various highways and shelter facilities.

This system is not limited to disaster information. Those individuals who take advantage of the service can also receive alerts on crime matters, such as someone who is wanted by the county or state of crimes committed.

The FCC has also approved a plan to create a nationwide emergency alert system which is in response to the Warning Alert and Response Act (2006) that stipulates that a plan be carried out to update the nation's alert system. This system will not be in place for another two years, and therefore, the more localized alert systems are something that vendors can look to provide in the interim as a more centralized notification system.

With cell phones, iPhones and Blackberry's acting as many individuals life line for information, this new service is an important step in receiving instant notification of emergencies and other important information. The Department of Homeland Security provided the funding for Philadelphia to purchase this system, and as additional grants are issued by DHS, more cities will seek assistance in providing their citizens with the information they need in the case of an emergency.

Though fiscal conditions in many states are weak, governors are no less ambitious. The use of technology to increase government efficiency and transparency, communicate with citizens, improve first responder communications and improve health care quality while containing cost are the "hot spots."

This year 43 governors gave state of the state or similar speeches outlining their priorities for 2008. Forty-two governors* proposed 1,045 new policy initiatives, or about 25 per governor. Like last year about 5% of these initiatives were technology related. INPUT's recently released Industry Insights report, State of the States 2008: Technology Initiatives and Implications, details these initiatives by vertical:

• General Government -- In 2008 69% of governors proposed general government service initiatives. The big trends were increased accountability, efficiency, consolidation, and Green IT.
  
  
• Health Care -- This year 88% of governors proposed health care initiatives. With the cost of Medicaid consuming almost 22% of states' total spending, it's no wonder governors have been focused on ways to reduce cost. Along with the federal government, states are also attempting to transform the health care industry to one based on quality instead of transactions. Health IT continues to be of great interest and INPUT believes several states have forged ahead of the federal government in this area. A new trend in health IT is transparency web sites, which allow consumers to comparison shop and make better, more informed decisions about their health care. Sara Palin of Alaska and Jim Doyle of Wisconsin both proposed new transparency projects in their state of the state speeches.
  
  
• Homeland Security -- In 2008 18% of governors proposed homeland security initiatives. Providing funding for public safety interoperable communications continues to be the most important technology priority.
  
  
• Justice and Public Safety -- 67% of governors proposed justice and public safety initiatives. Many governors are looking to alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders in order to reduce the cost of corrections, which is the second fastest growing component of state budgets. They are looking at GPS tracking and monitoring technologies and better case management tools for probation and parole officers. Vendors should also expect states and localities to become interested in reducing the cost of inmate health care by employing health IT.
  
  
• Social Services -- This year 55% of governors proposed initiatives in this vertical, up from 47% last year. Veterans and military service personnel returning from Iraq or Afghanistan are at the top of the agenda. However, there is continued interest in making programs such as Food Stamps, Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF), child welfare, child care, and child support enforcement more efficient. This includes mobility devices for social workers so they can spend more time in the field as well as enhancing and modernizing existing systems.

For more information on the verticals discussed above as well as Community Development, Economic Development and Regulation, Education, Natural Resources and the Environment, Public Finance or Transportation, download a copy of the executive summary or purchase the full report.

*Governor Ted Kulongoski of Oregon gave his speech to late to be included in INPUT's report.