Baton Rouge –The Department of Homeland Security announced Friday, April 4, 2008 as part of the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant program; Louisiana’s Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan and Investment Justifications have been approved by the Department of Homeland Security. 

“This is an excellent example of Louisiana setting the standard of excellence and being seen as a leader throughout the United States in establishing an interoperable communications environment” said Mark Cooper, Director of GOHSEP.  “We are very proud of this accomplishment and the fact that funding is now available to further expand the State’s 700 MHz system to Central and Northern Louisiana.”

The State of Louisiana will receive $19,672,287 through the PSIC Grant program, a one-time grant designed to enhance interoperable communications utilizing the 700 MHz radio spectrum.  The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) partnered with the Statewide Interoperable Communications System Executive Committee (SIEC) in determining grant priorities.  Each priority required a separate Investment Justification, which was developed by GOHSEP with assistance from the Louisiana State Police (LSP), and the SIEC. 

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) completed a programmatic review of all 56 State and Territory PSIC grant applications by facilitating a joint peer review process to receive input on the PSIC Investment Justification’s and Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans (SCIP). 

Through this peer review, the State’s Plan and Investments were very well received.  The peer reviewers provided feedback on Louisiana’s Plan and Investments and commented that “this SCIP is well done” and “addresses all the necessary areas and is overall an exceptional product.  It is a model plan”.  Louisiana’s SCIP was developed over a four month period with input from local and State agencies.  Louisiana’s plan was written by the SIEC support staff, consisting of temporarily assigned members of the Louisiana National Guard, and personnel from GOHSEP and LSP.  The SCIP outlines Louisiana’s plan for establishing and maintaining and an interoperable communications environment throughout the State for all local and state agency first responders.

Once the SCIP was completed, the SIEC developed three priorities for the PSIC grant.  The first priority includes investing $10,082,119 in 22 - 700 MHz repeater sites to expand the State’s existing 700 MHz footprint to Central and Northern Louisiana providing 95% mobile radio coverage.  This PSIC investment will complement the $45 million that has already been spent throughout South Louisiana by Federal, State and local funding sources, which currently provides 95% portable radio street level coverage throughout South Louisiana.  The peer reviewers agreed that “the investment leverages existing infrastructure and technology, and has a number of strengths” in addition they also commented that “the strategy, funding, and implementation components of the Investment are well-developed and indicate a strong foundation of multiple stakeholder (e.g., State, local, tribal, nongovernmental agencies) involvement and support.

The second priority investment includes $7,000,000 for the purchase of subscriber unit radios and IP based consoles.  This Investment is anticipated to purchase approximately 3,500 radios.  The radios will be distributed throughout the State with 85% going to local first responders and 15% being retained for State agency first responders.   The peer review panel noted that “the increased number of first responders who will gain access to the system leverages the purchasing power of the State to increase the number of subscriber units for the available grant funding, thereby meeting the cost-effective PSIC objectives.

Finally, the third priority investment is the development of Emergency Technology through an IP-based broadband mesh network utilizing spectrum dedicated for public safety.  The State will utilize $2,000,000 to develop an IP based mesh network for public safety officials in the following four cities: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and Lafayette.  This will allow the first responders in these communities to transfer data via laptops that are installed in their vehicles through a wireless network that will be dedicated for public safety officials.  The peer reviewers described the Investment as a “forward thinking solution, while discussing the potential for using advanced technology in the recently opened public safety spectrum.

Overall the peer reviewers commented that “the programmatic and peer review results determined Louisiana’s Investment Justification demonstrated strong evidence of close relationships among State and local stakeholders.  This Investment Justification is a well-coordinated effort across the State, supported through cohesive Investment and SCIP submissions.”  The peer review also commented that “Overall, reviewers thought that the Investment Justification as a whole contained strategic program management to support sustainable programs.  This is a well-written and well-reasoned Investment Justification that could be used as a best practice and commendable example for other States.

Over the next 45 days, GOHSEP will work with the SIEC and local parishes in assessing subscriber unit needs for Louisiana’s first responders and entering in Memoranda of Understanding’s, which allow the State to purchase subscriber units and infrastructure equipment on behalf of the individual agencies.  This will preclude the parishes from having to come up with the 25% match requirement of the PSIC grant, which has already been identified through previous funding approved by the Legislature.  In addition, local agencies will not have the burden of paying for the maintenance of the infrastructure and subscriber units that are purchased by the State. The State intends to add 22 – 700 MHz repeater sites on towers that are currently used to support the State’s aging 800 MHz analog system.