Emergency communications plan update will blend old and new

The Homeland Security Department is incorporating advanced technologies into an emergency communications strategy, but first responders will have to rely on legacy handheld devices for the short term, a DHS official said.

An update to the 2008 National Emergency Communications Plan will include a roadmap on deploying next-generation technologies, including broadband, said Chris Essid, director of DHS' Office of Emergency Communications. The plan governs how federal, state and local officials stay in touch during disasters. "We've got to continue evolving the vision to include emerging technologies; however, as technology evolves, it's more critical to focus on the coordination piece of the pie," Essid said during the 9-1-1 Goes to Washington conference. "Technologies exist to solve the problems [of emergency communications]; so why haven't they? There's a lack of standard operating procedures, exercises [and] governance. It's the same old gaps." The broadband piece of the updated strategy will be influenced by the Federal Communications Commission's National Broadband Plan, due out on Tuesday, according to Essid. Though details of FCC's plan have not been revealed, recommendations for deploying a dedicated broadband network for the public safety community will be included.