Interoperable communicationDHS offers grants for interoperable border communication

DHS secretary Janet Napolitano yesterday announced $25.5 million in grant funding under the Border Interoperability Demonstration Project (BIDP) — a one-time competitive grant program focused on developing solutions to strengthen interoperable emergency communications along the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico.

“The projects funded through the Border Interoperability Demonstration Project strengthen the security of our northern and southern borders, and our nation’s overall preparedness and emergency response capabilities,” said Napolitano. “These BIDP grants provide our state, local, and tribal partners with resources to explore innovative, effective, and adaptable solutions for improving emergency communications.”

Border Interoperability Demonstration Project Selected Communities(estimated funding is subject to change pending final negotiations):

• City of Yuma, Arizona — $3,994,443 for the Yuma Full Voice and Data Integration Demonstration Project.
• San Diego Fire-Rescue, California — $3,852,580 for the Regional Command and Control Communications Tactical Border Communications Project.
• County of Washington, Maine — $3,963,163 for the Enhanced Communications Infrastructure and Partnerships for Border Security Project.
• Wayne County, Michigan — $4,000,000 for the Southeast Michigan Border Interoperability Solution Project.
• Interoperability Montana, Montana — $3,895,425 for the Northern Tier Consortium Border Interoperability Demonstration Project.
• Lake County, Ohio — $3,998,200 for the Multi-Agency, Multi-Jurisdictional U.S. Regional & International Interoperable Communications Infrastructure and Maritime Domain Awareness Project.
• City of McAllen, Texas — $1,940,000 for the Rio Grande Valley Border Interoperability Regional Project.

Funding under the BIDP can be used for equipment purchases, planning, training, and conducting exercises. DHS says that the demonstration projects selected represent varying geographic regions and population densities in order to explore innovative approaches that can serve as models for other communities located along the borders with Canada and Mexico.

The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 called on DHS’s Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) to establish the BIDP to identify solutions that facilitate emergency communications along and across the border, and ensure that emergency response providers can communicate during natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other catastrophic events. The legislation authorizes DHS to select no fewer than six communities to participate — at least three along the U.S.-Canadian border and at least three along the U.S.-Mexican border.

OEC will provide the selected communities with technical assistance and support while these projects are implemented.