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EMR-ISAC: Infogram, Volume 21 Issue 8, February 25, 2021
The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "Ready Responder resources ensure peace of mind when disaster strikes"; "'Smart grid' interoperability standards from NIST [National Institute of Standards and Technology] may benefit future emergency services"; "DHS announces funding opportunity for $1.87 billion in preparedness grants"; "Training Opportunity: Mitigating Chemical/Explosive and Biological Threats Through Triggers and Tripwires for the Emergency Response Sector"; "Telephony Denial of Service Attacks can disrupt emergency call center operations"; "US cities disclose data breaches after vendor's ransomware attack"; "NIST offers tools to help defend against state-sponsored hackers"; and "CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] , FBI share recommendations after water treatment hack."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2021-02-25
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CISA Global
From the Document: "In today's globally and interconnected world, we confront a wide array of serious risks and threats to our critical infrastructure, systems, assets, functions, and citizens. State and non-state actor adversaries and competitors seek to advance their objectives through a variety of tactics, including subtle actions that significantly weaken the foundations of U.S. power, degrade societal functions, undermine trust in institutions, and increase adversaries' ability to exploit vulnerabilities and undermine the functions of critical infrastructure. Extreme weather events, natural hazards, terrorism, and hostile state actors are among the threats to critical functions, the 'systems of systems,' and systemic risks that can have global, cascading effects. As networked devices are further integrated into lives and businesses, their vulnerabilities provide additional attack vectors for nation-states and foreign adversaries. [...] With these critical mission sets, CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] must do more to address today's complex challenges and to prepare for future threats. CISA can leverage its global network to strengthen partner capacity and to build a better, collective practice posture and response to urgent threats that are particularly critical to U.S. national security interests. CISA is committed to promoting an open, interoperable, reliable and secure interconnected world within a global, operational and policy environment where network defenders and risk managers can collectively prevent and mitigate threats to critical infrastructure. We invite our global partners to join us in the fight to secure today and to defend tomorrow."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
2021-02
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Emergency Communications Technical Assistance and Planning Guide: FY2021 Highlights and Offerings
From the Foreword: "In a year of a global pandemic, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) remained resilient in providing coordination support to the national security and emergency response community to ensure the resiliency and security of our Nation. A key part of this was transitioning in-person technical assistance engagements to the virtual environment. Since the beginning of the pandemic, CISA's Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program (ICTAP) has delivered more than 100 virtual Technical Assistance (TA) engagements in 39 states and territories. This included Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP) workshops, Cybersecurity, Alerts and Warnings, and Grants for Emergency Communications awareness webinars and Governance and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) updates and development. [...] This year's Guide includes several new or enhanced virtual TA and SCIP workshop options to accommodate the current social distancing requirements. CISA TA offerings are provided to all 56 states and territories and Native American and Alaska Native tribes at no cost and may be requested at any time throughout the year. The offerings can be utilized to address a variety of communications interoperability issues, to remain current in the understanding of new and emerging technologies, to revitalize and enhance governance policies and procedures, and to enrich the integrity of Communications Unit personnel training and resource management."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
2021-01
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Standardization of Specialization: Regional Task Force Swat Team Response to Critical Incidents
From the thesis Abstract: "Critical incidents that involve multiple responding Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams frequently result in interoperability, command-and-control, and familiarity challenges for all involved. Time and time again, after-action reports have shown that these challenge points are not easy to overcome, and this is a key problem because those with advanced knowledge of effective tactics in handling complex and rapidly changing incidents often contribute to these evaluations. Given the scale, scope, and complexity of modern mass-casualty or critical incidents, how do SWAT team structures dealing with interoperability, training, familiarity, and command and control need to change for SWAT response to remain viable? This thesis used the case study method of structured, focused comparison for two complex critical incidents involving SWAT units, drawing commonalities from among those incidents and juxtaposing them against a task force-based approach. These key commonalities were then discussed in depth, and several recommendations were made for strategic planners around the country to consider. The ultimate goal of this thesis was to provide a foundational guideline for homeland security leaders to change how SWAT teams are structured when responding to critical incidents from manmade threats in the United States."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
George, Jonathan A.
2020-12
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Defense Acquisitions: Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture Would Benefit from Defined Goals and Governance, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Cyberspace is a growing, human-made environment that touches many parts of life, including education, economic development, health, and other public services. For DOD, cyberspace is as important as the traditional land, sea, air, and space warfighting domains. To integrate these disparate cyber systems into a more cohesive capability, U.S. Cyber Command introduced an overarching vision for cyber capabilities known as the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture. The Senate Armed Services Committee included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the status of the JCWA [Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture]. This report (1) describes the JCWA concept, systems, and planned capabilities; and (2) assesses the extent to which DOD has defined interoperability goals and a governance structure to guide JCWA cyber system acquisitions."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11
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Public Safety Communications Dependencies on Non-Agency Infrastructure and Services
From the Executive Summary: "Given the complexity of public safety communications systems and modern supply chains contributing to those systems, many public safety agencies find themselves relying on outside sources--commercial vendors and carriers, external agencies or departments, suppliers, and other organizations--to provide infrastructure and services. This collaboration between agencies sponsoring or owning the public safety communications systems and the external entities providing infrastructure or services comes with its own challenges, complexities, and opportunities. To address public safety dependencies on non-agency communications infrastructure and services, SAFECOM and the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC) developed this white paper to provide high-level insights for system administrators, public administration decision makers, and other stakeholders involved in public safety communications planning or implementation. While not a comprehensive guide, this document is intended to equip stakeholders with examples of real-world impacts of these dependencies, recommendations for ensuring resiliency and continuity of operations, and supplemental materials providing enhanced details about the various forms of dependencies and potential considerations and practices, including definitions of relevant acquisition, legal, and service-level documentation."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. SAFECOM; National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators
2020-10
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Statewide Access Programs: A Key Component to Eliminating the Post-Disaster Access Challenge
From the Thesis Abstract; "Although the United States has a well-defined incident management doctrine, it fails to fully integrate private sector response capabilities into national and local incident management efforts. The lessons learned from the 2017 Hurricane and Wildfire Season underscored the need to improve coordination with the private sector to better assist communities in responding to and recovering from emergencies. This thesis examines how the implementation of statewide access programs can better integrate private sector response capabilities into state and local disaster management efforts. Furthermore, it explores the purpose of an access program, the importance of access management during emergencies, and common post-disaster access-related challenges. Comparative analysis was used to examine U.S. incident management policies and practices regarding the concept of access management and the benefits associated with using access programs. Although use of an access program offers many benefits, key findings attribute the lack of widespread adoption to multiple factors, ranging from inconsistent policy guidance to inadequate prioritization of private sector access needs during emergencies. Recommendations include enacting state statutes, expanding the business emergency operations center network, developing interoperable access programs, and using federal grant programs to help government at all levels to more effectively integrate the private sector into incident management efforts."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Renteria, George
2020-09
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In the Name of COVID-19: An Assessment of the Schengen Internal Border Controls and Travel Restrictions in the EU
From the Abstract: "This study, commissioned by the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the LIBE Committee [Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs], assesses the mobility restrictive measures adopted by the EU and its Member States in the fight against COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. It examines the reintroduction of Schengen internal border controls and intra- and extra-EU travel restrictions. It assesses their compatibility with the Schengen Borders Code, including proportionality, non-discrimination, privacy and free movement. The research demonstrates that policy priorities have moved from a logic of containment to one characterized by a policing approach on intra-EU mobility giving priority to the use of police identity/health checks, interoperable databases and the electronic surveillance of every traveller. It concludes that Schengen is not in 'crisis'. Instead there has been an 'EU enforcement and evaluation gap' of Member States compliance with EU rules in areas falling under EU competence."
European Parliament. Directorate-General for Internal Policies
Carrera, Sergio; Luk, Ngo Chun
2020-09
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Constitutional Authority to Regulate the Privacy of State-Collected Contact-Tracing Data [June 26, 2020]
Form the Document: "Amid the ongoing COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, several states have developed and promoted contact-tracing mobile device apps to identify individuals who may have had contact with infected persons. Additionally, the two largest manufacturers of mobile device operating systems, Apple (iOS) and Google (Android), have announced plans to release application programming interfaces (APIs) to 'enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities.' Several bills in the 116th Congress would regulate the privacy of information collected through such contact-tracing apps."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Liu, Edward C.
2020-06-26
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Why Open Science is Critical to Combatting COVID-19
From the Key Messages: "[1] In global emergencies like the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, open science policies can remove obstacles to the free flow of research data and ideas, and thus accelerate the pace of research critical to combating the disease. [2] While global sharing and collaboration of research data has reached unprecedented levels, challenges remain. Trust in at least some of the data is relatively low, and outstanding issues include the lack of specific standards, co-ordination and interoperability, as well as data quality and interpretation. [3] To strengthen the contribution of open science to the COVID-19 response, policy makers need to ensure adequate data governance models, interoperable standards, sustainable data sharing agreements involving public sector, private sector and civil society, incentives for researchers, sustainable infrastructures, human and institutional capabilities and mechanisms for access to data across borders."
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
2020-05-12
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Data Interoperability and Exchange to Support COVID-19 Containment
From the Executive Summary: "The success of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] containment as the United States reopens will depend on timely sharing of key information related to testing, contact tracing, and detecting and acting on new outbreaks. Containment strategies across the country depend on effective collaboration of public health authorities with health care providers, laboratories, and community-based organizations to conduct testing, support effective contact tracing, quickly discern new patterns in health care use plausibly related to COVID-19, and identify ways to improve all of these activities over time. But public health, health care, and testing organizations have never had to work together with the scale or urgency required for COVID-19 containment. In particular, public health agencies are facing difficulties routinely accessing critical data from these other key participants in the containment effort, despite valiant attempts to cobble together information from many disparate systems."
Duke University
Mostashari, Farzad; McClellan, Mark B.
2020-05-01
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Mobile Applications to Support Contact Tracing in the EU's Fight Against COVID-19 Common EU Toolbox for Member States
From the Executive Summary: "Mobile apps have potential to bolster contact tracing strategies to contain and reverse the spread of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. EU Member States are converging towards effective app solutions that minimise the processing of personal data, and recognise that interoperability between these apps can support public health authorities and support the reopening of the EU's internal borders. This first iteration of a common EU toolbox, developed urgently and collaboratively by the e-Health Network with the support of the European Commission, provides a practical guide for Member States. The common approach aims to exploit the latest privacy-enhancing technological solutions that enable at-risk individuals to be contacted and, if necessarily, to be tested as quickly as possible, regardless of where she is and the app she is using."
European Commission
2020-04-15
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Commission Recommendation of 8.4.2020 on a Common Union Toolbox for the Use of Technology and Data to Combat and Exit from the Covid-19 Crisis, in Particular Concerning Mobile Applications and the Use of Anonymised Mobility Data
From the Document: "(1) This recommendation sets up a process for developing a common approach, referred to as a Toolbox, to use digital means to address the crisis. The Toolbox will consist of practical measures for making effective use of technologies and data, with a focus on two areas in particular: (1) A pan-European approach for the use of mobile applications, coordinated at Union level, for empowering citizens to take effective and more targeted social distancing measures, and for warning, preventing and contact tracing to help limit the propagation of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] disease. This will involve a methodology monitoring and sharing assessments of effectiveness of these applications, their interoperability and cross-border implications, and their respect for security, privacy and data protection; and (2) A common scheme for using anonymized and aggregated data on mobility of populations in order (i) to model and predict the evolution of the disease, (ii) to monitor the effectiveness of decision-making by Member States' authorities on measures such as social distancing and confinement, and (iii) to inform a coordinated strategy for exiting from the COVID-19 crisis."
European Commission
2020-04-08
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Resistance Operating Concept (ROC)
From the Purpose: "The Resistance Operating Concept (ROC) encourages governments to foster pre-crisis resiliency through Total Defense (also known as Comprehensive Defense), a 'whole-of-government' and 'whole-of-society' approach, which include interoperability among its forces and those of its allies and partners. This establishes a common operational understanding and lexicon for resistance planning and its potential execution in Total Defense, incorporated within National Defense Plans. Several states in Europe and other parts of the world employ such a Total Defense posture. The ROC seeks to identify resistance principles, requirements, and potential challenges that may inform doctrine, plans, capabilities, and force development. It also identifies opportunities for intra-and intergovernmental support and collaboration, while promoting overall allied and partner nation (PN) interoperability. This document is the result of a cooperative effort to understand this topic."
Joint Special Operations University (U.S.)
Fiala, Otto
2020-04
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security Departmental Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Backlog Reduction Plan: 2020 - 2023
From the Executive Summary: "DHS is proud of the investments made in our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program and workforce. The Department's FOIA program provides the public and Department with an immensely valuable service, providing records that promote transparency and directly impact and assist the public while also protecting sensitive, confidential, and private information. The DHS 2020 - 2023 FOIA Backlog Reduction Plan includes five goals that lay out a sustainable course for containing and reducing the age of the backlog in the short-term, and sustainably lowering the size of the backlog over the next three to five years. To achieve success, the plan addresses the underlying causes of the backlog - including decentralization, technology and interoperability limitations, and staffing and resource constraints."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2020-03
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Voices of First Responders - Examining Public Safety Communication from the Perspective of 9-1-1 Call Takers and Dispatchers 'Findings from User-Centered Interviews Phase 1, Volume 4'
From the Abstract: "With the newly created Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN), the public safety community has a unique opportunity to review and improve communication technology for first responders, 9-1-1 communications, emergency medical services (EMS), fire, and law enforcement. Understanding the problems and challenges currently experienced by first responders provides the basis for addressing and developing solutions to improve public safety communication. The National Institute of Standards and Technology Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) usability team conducted in-depth interviews with approximately 200 first responders representing 13 states in eight Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regions across the United States. From this larger dataset, this report, the fourth volume in the series, focuses on the contexts and challenges specifically facing 9-1-1 communications personnel. The findings reported here stem from 30 interviews with public safety answering point responders. A qualitative analysis of the transcribed interview data revealed unique issues resulting from significantly different contexts and primary tasks of communications personnel in contrast to first responders from other disciplines. Challenges include 9-1-1 incoming calls from wireless devices, continuity of operations related issues, as well as, technology implementation and infrastructure problems. Communications personnel are concerned that new technologies will demand additional focus which will increase their cognitive loads. Just like their colleagues in other emergency response disciplines, communications personnel stressed the need for utility in technology that emphasizes usability, interoperability, and reliability."
National Institute of Standards and Technology (U.S.)
Dawkins, Shanee; Choong, Yee-Yin; Theofanos, Mary . . .
2020-03
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Transfer of Defense Articles: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) [February 21, 2020]
From the Document: "The United States sells more than $55 billion worth of defense articles and services annually to foreign governments to advance U.S. security and economic interests. Such purchases are managed primarily through the Foreign Military Sales program (FMS), through which the U.S. government procures defense articles as an intermediary for foreign partners. This adds value for customers by ensuring that they have the same contract benefits and protections that apply to the U.S. military's acquisition of its own defense articles and services. In turn, the U.S. benefits from a government-to-government relationship in the sale intended to comply with U.S. foreign and security policy, as well as to help ensure militarily interoperable weapons systems among allies and partners. Congress authorized the FMS program in the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) of 1976 (22 U.S.C. §2751 et seq.) and provides active oversight of the program through annual Department of State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Acts and the National Defense Authorization Acts. Such oversight is also seen in the congressional response to executive branch notifications of foreign arms sales. Through these mechanisms, Congress may limit or prohibit FMS to certain countries, or encourage the use of FMS in other cases."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lucas, Nathan J.; Vassalotti, Michael J.
2020-02-21
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DoD Releases Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Proposal
From the Document: "On February 10, 2020, President Donald J. Trump sent Congress a proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 budget request of $740.5 billion for national security, $705.4 billion of which is for the Department of Defense (DoD). The FY 2021 budget supports the irreversible implementation of the National Defense Strategy (NDS), which drives the Department's decision-making in reprioritizing resources and shifting investments to prepare for a potential future, high-end fight. This budget resources four focus areas to build a more lethal, agile, and innovative joint force as it: 1. Continues to improve military readiness and invest in the modernization of a more lethal force; 2. Strengthens alliances, deepens interoperability, and attracts new partners; 3. Reforms the Department for greater performance and accountability; and 4. Supports service members and their families, recognizing that our people are our most valuable resource."
United States. Department of Defense
2020-02-10?
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Radio Frequency Interference Best Practices Guidebook
From the Executive Summary: "Public safety voice and data communications are continuously at risk of radio frequency (RF) interference, which is defined as 'the effect of unwanted energy due to one or a combination of emissions, radiations, or inductions upon reception in a radio communication system, manifested by any performance degradation, misinterpretation, or loss of information which could be extracted in the absence of such unwanted energy.' RF interference can impact a variety of commonly-used wireless technologies such as land mobile radio (LMR), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Both manmade and natural sources can generate undesired signals that may cause RF interference capable of disrupting wireless communications, including 911 calls, essential LMR or LTE communications between first responders, and navigational systems using GPS or other satellite-based location services. To mitigate possible risks to public safety communications, SAFECOM and the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC) developed the 'Radio Frequency Interference Best Practices Guidebook' with the support of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) to educate public safety organizations on RF interference threats."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators
2020-02
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Mobility Acceleration Coalition
From the Document: "As public safety agencies advance their communication technology tools based on individual priorities and budgets, there is the potential problem that the disparate communication systems are incompatible with those of other jurisdictions. In the absence of regional coordination and strategic planning, public safety runs the risk of adopting non-interoperable and incompatible mobile data systems. Given the diversity of applications, the interoperability issues for mobile data could be significantly more challenging than those seen in technologies like land mobile radio and computer aided dispatch systems. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) collaborated with Mobility 4 Public Safety, the Los Angeles region and the Houston/Harris County region to create the Mobility Acceleration Coalition (MAC). By working with public safety stakeholders in both regions, DHS S&T sought to enhance strategic planning to develop repeatable interoperable mobile data architectures, governance, and associated policies and procedures with tactical use case development for public safety purposes."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2020-01
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Drug Supply Chain Security Act and 2D Vaccine Barcodes
From the Executive Summary: "The Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), signed into law on November 27, 2013, aims to enhance the FDA's [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] ability to protect consumers by identifying and removing counterfeit and dangerous medicines/products from the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain. The DSCSA stipulates that by 2023, the U.S. will have an electronic, interoperable system that will be able to monitor the movement of prescription drugs from manufacturing to dispensation. To operationalize this objective, the DSCSA requires that manufacturers imprint, in human readable form, a product identifier to each package and case of a product that they intend to introduce into the supply chain. In addition, the product identifier must include the National Drug Code, Serial Number, Lot Number and Expiration date encoded within a 2D barcode. Product serialization is a key building block and enabler of traceability; in the public health context, traceability can support improved recall capabilities and the ability to validate the authenticity of pharmaceutical products. These gains, however, are highly dependent on the integration and interoperability of information systems and processes."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Cox, Regina; Malai, Millie
2020-01
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MHS Genesis: Background and Issues for Congress [October 28, 2019]
From the Document: "Since 1968, the Department of Defense (DOD) has developed, procured, and sustained a variety of electronic systems to document the health care services delivered to servicemembers, military retirees, and their family members. DOD currently operates a number of legacy electronic health record (EHR) systems. Each system has separate capabilities and functions as a result of new or changing requirements over the past five decades. The primary legacy systems include the Composite Health Care System (CHCS), Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA), Essentris, and the Corporate Dental System. DOD also still uses paper medical records that are later scanned and digitally archived. Currently, only certain components of DOD's health records are accessible to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In the early 1990s, concern grew about deficient interoperability between DOD and VA. This led to recommendations by various commissions on military and veterans health care calling for greater coordination and data sharing efforts between the two departments. Between 1998 and 2008, DOD and VA developed several capabilities to exchange patient health information across each department's EHR systems. However, Congress did not view these systems as an adequately integrated approach. This led to several congressional mandates being issued between 2008 and 2014, including for the development of an interoperable EHR (including a deadline to implement such system), for certain capability requirements, and for the creation of an interagency program office. After several strategy changes to meet Congress's mandates, DOD opted to acquire a commercial-off-the-shelf EHR product to replace its legacy EHR systems. The new system would be called MHS [Military Health System] Genesis."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.
2019-10-28
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Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program [ISSI or CSSI] Interoperability Test [October 2019]
From the Document: "The test cases [...] apply to the Inter Sub System Interface (ISSI) of a Radio Frequency SubSystem (RFSS). All test cases including all the role combinations required for each test case were passed except for those test cases/role combinations identified [...] under Unsupported, Not Tested or Failed Test Cases."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2019-10-01?
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Project 25 Compliance Assessment Bulletin: Baseline Inter-RF Sub-System Interface and Console Sub-System Interface Interoperability Testing Requirements [October 2019]
From the Introduction: "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate's (S&T) Office for Interoperability and Compatibility Technology Center (OIC-TC) Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program (P25 CAP) is a voluntary program that allows P25 equipment suppliers to formally demonstrate their products' compliance with a select group of requirements within the suite of P25 standards. The purpose of the program is to provide emergency response agencies with evidence that the communications equipment they are purchasing meet P25 standards for performance, conformance and interoperability. The program requires test laboratories to demonstrate their competence through a rigorous and objective assessment process. [...] This documentation will serve to increase the public's confidence in the performance, conformance and interoperability of P25 equipment."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office for Interoperability and Compatibility
2019-10
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Project 25 Compliance Assessment Bulletin: P25 CAP Compliance Testing Rules [October 2019]
From the Introduction: "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate's (S&T) Office for Interoperability and Compatibility Technology Center (OIC-TC) Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program (P25 CAP) is a voluntary program that allows P25 equipment suppliers to demonstrate their products' compliance with selected requirements within the suite of P25 standards. The purpose of the program is to provide emergency response agencies with evidence that the communications equipment they are purchasing meet P25 standards for performance, conformance and interoperability. The program requires test laboratories to demonstrate their competence through a rigorous and objective assessment process conducted by the approved accreditation bodies. Such a process promotes the user community's confidence in, and acceptance of, test results from DHS-recognized laboratories. [...] This documentation will serve to increase the public's confidence in the performance, conformance and interoperability of P25 equipment."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office for Interoperability and Compatibility
2019-10
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Emergency Communications Technical Assistance and Planning Guide: FY2020 Highlights and Offerings
From the Document: "In FY2020, CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] will provide an opportunity for all 56 states and territories to receive TA [technical assistance] services at no cost. In preparation for the request process, this Guide lists available TA service offerings. The process for SWICs [Statewide Interoperability Coordinator] to request TA services has been updated [...] CISA TA services are also available for all federally recognized Tribal Nations."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
2019-10
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FDA's Technology Modernization Action Plan (TMAP)
From the Document: "Recent scientific and biomedical advances--from genomic sequencing to development of cell and gene therapies and nanotechnologies-- have brought the promise of significant improvements to the health of many millions of Americans. To date, however, we have seen little of this promise in our day-to-day lives because a large and persistent gap separates important scientific advances and the technologies needed to translate those advances into new therapies for patients and new ways to protect the public health. The FDA's Technology Modernization Action Plan (TMAP), described in this document, is an important step FDA is taking to address and close this gap. The plan describes important near-term actions that FDA is taking to modernize use of technology-- computer hardware, software, data, and analytics--to advance FDA's public health mission. TMAP has three elements: (1) modernization of FDA's technical infrastructure; (2) enhancing FDA's capabilities to develop technology products to support its regulatory mission; and (3) communication and collaboration with stakeholders to drive technological progress that is interoperable across the system and delivers value to consumers and patients."
United States. Food and Drug Administration
2019-09-18
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National Emergency Communications Plan (2019)
From the Message from the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency: "The National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) is the Nation's roadmap to ensuring emergency communications interoperability at all levels of government. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency leads the effort to update and implement the NECP, but it requires participation from the whole community to be successful. Since the last NECP release in 2014, the emergency communications landscape has experienced unprecedented change. The frequency and complexity of emergencies are on the rise during a time when technology is advancing at a faster pace than any other time in history. While responders still rely heavily on land mobile radio for voice communications, comprehensive strategies for emergency communications must integrate the full Emergency Communications Ecosystem, including broadband, alerts and warnings, social media, and Next Generation 911. Internet Protocol-based devices and applications have the potential to vastly improve emergency responder capabilities, yet also introduce new challenges such as cybersecurity threats, the need for a more technically skilled workforce, and shorter equipment lifecycles. The NECP emphasizes the need for strong governance structures, updated policies and procedures, as well as joint exercises and trainings to improve interoperability which ensures information is provided to the right people at the right time. The 2019 NECP update was developed in partnership with Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions and the private sector."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
2019-09
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Blockchain Technology Implementation in the U.S. Customs Environment
From the Thesis Abstract: "Blockchain technology promises to revolutionize supply chain management and may improve the international trade environment as well as compliance and enforcement capabilities. Because blockchain technology is still developing, the government has an opportunity to collaborate with the trade industry and to explore the technology's capabilities. This thesis examines the first proof of concept (POC) blockchain implementation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and provides recommendations for future government involvement in the implementation of blockchain technology in the U.S. customs environment. The POC proved that blockchain technology can be implemented in the U.S. customs environment and that the technology can improve the processing and tracking of trade documents, facilitate interaction with multiple entities, enable better auditability, and expedite processing. The POC revealed that utilization of emerging interoperability specifications and standards is key for successful implementation. This research concludes that if government entities join the blockchain revolution early on, they have an opportunity to drive the change, rather than to react and adapt to systems established by others. This thesis recommends that CBP expand blockchain implementation by joining efforts with other government agencies and the trade industry. CBP can facilitate future coordination, implementation, and creation of global blockchain standards necessary in international trade."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Angert, Svetlana
2019-09
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Positive Train Control: As Implementation Progresses, Focus Turns to the Complexities of Achieving System Interoperability, Statement of Susan Fleming, Director, Physical Infrastructure, Testimony Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Forty-two railroads are currently subject to the statutory mandate to implement PTC [positive train control], a communications-based system designed to automatically slow or stop a train that is not being operated safely. Railroads were required to implement PTC by December 31, 2018, but would receive extensions up to December 31, 2020, if specific statutory requirements were met. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review railroads' PTC implementation progress. This statement discusses (1) railroads' implementation progress and any related implementation challenges and (2) FRA's [Federal Railroad Administration] plans for overseeing railroads' implementation. GAO analyzed railroads' most recent quarterly reports covering activities through March 31, 2019; received responses from all 42 railroads on a brief questionnaire; and interviewed officials from FRA and 8 railroads, selected to include variation in implementation status and type of railroad, among other criteria."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Fleming, Susan A.
2019-07-31
