GAO says Congressional Action Needed to Ensure Agencies Collaborate on Public Safety Network

The Integrated Wireless Network (IWN) was intended to be a collaborative effort among the Departments of Justice (DOJ), Homeland Security (DHS), and the Treasury to provide secure, seamless, interoperable, and reliable nationwide wireless communications in support of federal agents and officers engaged in law enforcement, protective services, homeland defense, and disaster response missions. GAO was asked to determine the extent to which the three departments are developing a joint radio communications solution. IWN is no longer being pursued as a joint development project. Instead of focusing on a joint solution, the departments have begun independently modernizing their own wireless communications systems. GAO recommends Congress should consider, given the critical importance of improving radio communications among federal agencies, requiring that DOJ, DHS, and the Treasury employ key cross-agency collaboration practices to develop a joint radio communications solution. (GAO-09-133)