Lack of Funding Blamed For Weak Implementation Of TSP Program
Lack of funding and lack of awareness are the major obstacles to implementing the telecom service priority (TSP) program by the public safety, speakers said Thurs. during a TSP summit hosted by the FCC. The program has been in operation since 1988, when the FCC authorized telecom service providers to provide priority restoration of pre-designed circuits in times of emergency. But the panelists said that so far it has attracted less than 10% of PSAPs. For example, they said, there were still at least 20 states which local emergency centers had no TSP coverage. Okla. Corp. Commission Comr. Denise Bode estimated it would take $7.2 million to cover the uncovered circuits.
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“Clearly, as of today, we are not completely there yet,” FCC Chmn. Powell said, concluding the summit: “And in the area like homeland security I don’t think there should ever be a state of satisfaction. I don’t think 80% [TSP coverage] is good enough, I don’t think 90% is good enough… If we are not shooting to ensure that this is really at a 100% level, then our mission is not complete.”
The FCC has singled out PSAP administrators as one of the groups that’s “significantly under-represented” in the TSP program. In a letter to APCO Dir. John Ramsey sent dated Jan. 28, 2003, FCC Office of Engineering & Technology Chief Edmond Thomas and National Communications System Deputy Mgr. Brenton Greene said they were “concerned that many PSAP administrators may not be aware of the importance of participating in the TSP program or may overestimate the cost of participation.” They urged Ramsey to reach out to PSAP administrators and educate them on “how the TSP program works and why they should seriously consider participating in the program.”
“The primary reason that so many entities across the country ignore this program… is cost,” said Nancy Pollock of the Metropolitan 911 Board & Assn. of Public Safety Communications Officials. “Why is there such disparity across the country -- everywhere from almost free to several hundred dollars per circuit?” she asked: “And when I put all the 300 circuits on TSP, that’s a fair amount of change for the government.” NENA Technical Issues Dir. Roger Hixson: “There is a need for cost- consistency to encourage people to utilize the program.”
“Public safety communication needs to be part of homeland security funding because local government can no longer address all their needs in the timeframe that is critical,” Pollock said: “Utilization of the program by public safety communication needs to be addressed with funding and direction by the federal government so that we can accomplish the reliability that we require for the safety of our citizens.” APCO Technical Services Mgr. Martin Moody told us the FCC could help encourage TSP rollout and attract more participants to the program: The FCC “could send information out dealing with topics like this. They are able to educate and I think that’s the primary thing that they can do. They can set this as a high priority.”
“We are in favor of taking some homeland security money and reinforcing the… 911 center,” OCC’s Bode said: “The truth of the matter is that… the executive decision makers who control the funding for 90% of PSAPs in this country aren’t necessarily 911 people, not necessarily communications people… TSP is one the tools that we should have been using a long time ago and we should get out there and sell that tool to people that make financial decisions.” Bode said the impact of the DHS on public safety “continues to amaze me.” He said the DHS funded a $40 million project to train track drivers to report suspicious activities: “If we have that kind of money being awarded to programs, where is the protection of the circuits, where is the protection of 911 centers that do this job?”
“Public safety communications needs to be considered as part of the critical infrastructure of this country’s homeland security planning,” Pollock said: “Public safety communication needs to have the same attention paid to its ongoing operations as… buying chemical suits to respondents.” Bode said there should be “a clear understanding that the PSAP has to be given equal status in the homeland security arena as an entity that is critical to effective security protection… Giving [money] to a police department doesn’t ensure that public safety communications in that region has been enhanced.”
TSP covers a wide array of key govt. and private organizations, but many aren’t even aware of whether they are qualified, speakers said. They said many eligible organizations didn’t participate in the program, which presented a serious vulnerability to homeland security. “There are a lot of people out there who don’t even know” that this program exists, Thomas said: “My strong encouragement is make a call and find out whether you are eligible.”
Lack of awareness was also cited as a reason why many believe enrollment in the TSP program wasn’t necessary, speakers said. “The customers’ perception is that ‘my service is a high priority and will be restored first anyway,'” said SBC Dir. Homeland & National Security Don Boland. He said “hand-shake agreements” could work well during single emergency incidents but not in cases of major disasters. “It is a legal requirement to restore TSP[-covered circuits] before any other services,” he said.