Transcripts For CSPAN3 First Responder Communications 201711

Preparedness response and communications will come to order. The subcommittee is meeting today to receive testimony on the state of First Responder communications. I now recognize myself for an Opening Statement. I want to welcome all witnesses here this morning on an issue that is vital to our Homeland Security. The ability of our First Responders to communicate. As noted in the 2006 national interoperable baseline survey, there is a, quote, direct correlation between effective communications, interoperatedability and First Responders ability to save lives, end quote. In my hometown of new york city we know this all too well. Both the first both the office of Emergency Communications and First Responder Network Authority were established in the wake of the communication failures of 9 11 and later in hurricane katrina. We have made a great deal of progress since those fateful disasters. States and localities have invested billions of dollars in their Communications Networks, including governance, training, and equipment. The office of Emergency Communications has completed two national Emergency Communications plans and has provided guidance and Technical Assistance to state and local stake holders. And this year we have reached another milestone. Firstnet, in its fifth year since its establishment in the middle class tax relief and job creation act, awarded a contract to at t to build out the nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network. And to date, nearly half of states and territories have committed to opt into that network. We know this work is making a difference. In contrast to 9 11 and hurricane katrina, First Responder networks for the most part remained operable during the response to super storm sandy, even while commercial networks experienced outages. It is my understanding that First Responder networks were largely able to withstand the impacts of hurricanes harvey and irma. Im interested in hearing from our witnesses and their assessments of how these networks fared do you remember the recent hurricanes. But despite these advancements, challenges remain. Earlier this year, this subcommittee joined with the subcommittee on Cyber Security and Infrastructure Protection to hold a round table on signer risks to emergency Communication Networks. We have seen the evolution of communications technology, providing enhanced capabilities for First Responders. But with these benefits come the risk of Cyber Security vulnerabilities as many of these systems and applications are i. Pechlt based and interconnected. We must ensure our nations First Responders are aware of Cyber Security threats and can work to address them. As we prepare for First Responders to have access to the nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network we cannot forget that First Responders will continue to depend on land mobile radio for Mission Critical voice communications. I am concerned about a requirement that First Responder Radio Networks operating on the t band must migrate off that spectrum by 2021. This will have Significant Impact on a number of major metropolitan areas, including new york city. And studies have suggested that there isnt sufficient alternative spectrum for these jurisdictions to use. In taking steps forward, with the Public Safety Broadband Networks, we just ensure we are not taking steps back for missioncritical Voice Networks on which First Responders rely on. Im looking forward to our witnesses assessment of the current state of First Responder communications, and what more needs to be done to ensure First Responders have the connectivity and information to continue to serve our communities. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from new jersey, my friend mr. Payne, for an Opening Statement that he may have. Good morning, mr. Chairman. Im going to try to accommodate you since your voice is leaving you. Its left. When you stay on cnn and msnbc as much as you have been on there the last several days, i would assume that your voice would be going. But you know, i want to thank you first for holding todays hearing on First Responders communication. This is the subcommittees first hearing on Emergency Communications since the 113th congress. So i am eager to hear about the progress both the office of Emergency Communications and firstnet have made in advancing interoperable emergency communication efforts. Since ive joined this committee in 2013, i have been a strong advocate of policies to improve enter operable emergency communication capabilities from ensuring enter operable communication capability among the components of the department of Homeland Security to helping bolster state and Regional Government structures that inform emergency communication plans and procedures. That said, i have been concerned to learn that the dwindling number of dedicated fulltime statewide enter operablity coordinates, swiks, im concerned about the reduction in fulltime swiks. And the disntd abouting of other government structures might undermine progress made towards improving emergency communication capabilities since 9 11. Swiks and related government structures have been integrate in ensuring that emergency communication plans are coordinated, up to date, and exercise. Every First Responder i have ever spoken to has told me that the key to enter operablity is not technology. Its governance. So i am interested to know why states are no longer funding fulltime swiks and what congress can do to help mitigate the impact of less robust governance. Im pleased that new jersey was among the first states to opt in to firstnet. Im encouraged by the potential it holds for First Responders and look forward to seeing it revolutionize Emergency Communications. The capabilities firstnet promises will save lives if the network is built and managed properly. That said, i am concerned about the requirement that First Responders in certain major metropolitan areas like newark and jersey city vacate the t band by 2023. Unless congress acts, First Responders in my district would get kicked off of their spectrum and be forced to relocate. Before i close, mr. Chairman, id like to send my thoughts to those suffering in puerto rico and u. S. Virgin islands. As Ranking Member of Emergency Preparedness subcommittee, it is clear to me that something in our National Preparedness doctrine has failed. And i look forward to having the opportunity for this subcommittee to examine what went wrong in puerto rico and the virgin islands, and why, so we can make sure people in our country never suffer like this again. And with that, i thank the witnesses for being here today, and i yield back the balance of my time. The gentlemen yields. In any other members attend they will be reminded that Opening Statements may be committed for the record. We are pleased to have a distinguished panel before us today on this important topic. Admiral Ronald Hewitt served as the director of the department of Homeland Securitys office of Emergency Communications, a position which he has held since november of 2012. Prior to joining oec, admiral hewitt served as the United States coast guards assistant commandant for Human Resources and the assistant commandant for command, control, communications, computers, and information technology, which is the coast guards chief information officer. And having a great coast guard presence on staten island, admiral, we love our coasties. Thank you. Uhhuh. Mr. Ed parkinson serves as the director of Government Affairs for the First Responder Network Authority, firstnet and is responsible for intergovernmental relations with local, state, and federal organizations. Prior to joining firstnet, mr. Parkinson served for five years as a professional staff member for the house Homeland Security committee. With his primary area of responsibility in the field of First Responder communications. Ed, welcome back. Mr. Mark goldstein serves as a director of physical infrastructure issues at the Government Accountability office where he is responsible for gaos work in the areas of Government Property and telecommunications. Prior to joining gao, mr. Goldstein held positions with the district of columbia financial control board, the Internal Revenue service, and Senate Committee on Homeland Security and governmental affairs. Welcome, mr. Goldstein. The witnesses full written statements will appear in the record and now the chair recognizes admiral hutd for admiral hewitt for five minutes. Thank you chairman donovan, rankingmember payne and distinguished members of then b subcommittee it is a distinct honor the for me to be here to provide an overview of what our office has done since ten years ago and more specifically within the last three years since our previous hearing to improve communications and enter operablity nationwide. Communication is undergoing unprecedented change with the deployment of firstnet. Next generation 911, cellular alert and warning estimates. To ensure all these systems work seamlessly together we promulgated the 2014 national Emergency Communications plan, custom is the road map to ensuring interoperatabilities. The plan was developed by same com, a group comprised of Public Safety leaders representing the nations First Responder community, and government leaders who support Public Safety. To implement the goals and objectives of the 2014 plan, we assist states and territories with developing and implementing their statewide communications interoperatability plans which are aligned to the national plan. It is essential that state and territory plans cover all Public Safety Communication Systems to ensure information seamlessly flows between them. But there have been obstacles in doing so. The majority of the statewide interon rablt koordors which we refer to as swiks are obl for land mobile radio and it is difficult for them to develop which include officials who are responsibility for Public Safety systems. Additionally we are seeing many swiks being assigned multiple roles. To address these issues we asked the nga to conduct a survey on improving interoperatability in five stays. Recommendations from the academy included empower southwick to ensure close coordination with first point of contact and 911 administrator. Reinvigorate an active governance body. Revitalize the statewide communications interon rablt plan. And engage state legislators to promote understanding and support of the plan. We will continue to work with nga to help address the policy academy recommendations. We are also working with safe comto upgrade the Communications Unit within the incident command system. Custom is the common way all responders organize and operate during an even or disaster. Currently, Communications Unit is responsible for radio interon rablt but we are updating it to include cellular, which will support firstnet capabilities. To date we have trained over 7,000 Communications Leaders across the country. Once we update the program to include Broadband Systems we will provide Refresher Training that includes the new material. Broadband not only provides new capabilities such as text, data, and pictures, but also new risks such as Cyber Security. The communication yubtd of the future will mitigate these risks while achieving the benefits of multimedia information to assist Public Safety with saving lives and preserving property. Today citizens cannot send a picture to their 911 center of their lost child or loved one. Nor can it been is sent out to Public Safety or citizens to help search for that earn approximate. But with oecs eftsz to drive interoperate blt across all Public Safety Communication Systems including land motor radio, 911, Broadband Network and next generation warning and Alert Systems this communication will be available to citizens across the nation as these systems are deployed. This is just one of many examples that illustrate the value of interoperable Multimedia Communications for Public Safety and citizens. By achieving the goals and objectives of the national Emergency Communications plan these live saving benefits will become a reality. This subcommittee and committee have been excellent partners in this effort, and i look forward to continuing the conversation with you about how best to carry out our national effort. Once again, thank you chairman donovan, Ranking Member payne, and distinguished members of this committee for allowing me to testify here today. Thank you admiral. And thank you for your service to our nation. The chair now recognizes mr. Parkinson for five minutes. Thank you mr. Chairman. Mr. Donovan, Ranking Member payne, it is a pleasure to be here and thank you for inviting me to testify before the committee today. My name is edward parkinson, im the director of Government Affairs for firstnet. As you referenced in my previous life i was sitting behind the esteemed members so its different for me to be sitting in front of the dais today but im happy to be testified. Since i last testified before the committee in 2014 we have made enormous progress. In the past three years, a clear path forward to the National Deployment of the National Public emergency Broadband Network. Met with many tribal nations successfully completed an open, transparent, and competitive procurement. Selected a Public Private partner in the shape of at t. Delivered state plans and began the opt in process. While enormous amount of work has gone into the past few years, we have much to yet accomplish. So the men and women at firstnet remain dedicated to delivering the network for our nation as First Responders as quickly as possible. As the recent storms have brought devastation to texas, florida, and puerto rico, and the inconceivable tragedy that took place in las vegas all show us, communication is now considered by all of us and not just Public Safety as much as a necessity as power or other utilities. What was known prior to 9 11, and what is abundantly clear today is that we need to get the best possible tools into the hands of the men and women who protect us and keep us safe. The Firstnet Network has been a