[Scan-DC] Fw: USCP Press Release: USCP Begins Operating on New Radio System

[Alan Henney]

Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2014 5:14 PM
To: mailto:alan at henney.com 
Subject: FW: USCP Press Release: USCP Begins Operating on New Radio System


 

*Please reference the attached backgrounder* (below)

 

USCP Begins Operating on New Radio System

 

The ability to communicate via radio is one of the most critical tools a law enforcement officer can have at their disposal.  We are pleased to announce that on February 26, 2014, the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) fully migrated to a new radio system—an encrypted, 14-channel, digital trunked P25 radio system.  This critical life safety tool provides our officers with significant improvements that enhance our ability to perform our law enforcement mission.  

 

The new system offers greater interior and exterior coverage, more capacity, improved voice quality, greater interoperability, and greater network redundancy within the system.  This modernized and upgraded radio system is future-ready.  The new radios that the USCP are using on this system are the latest technology and are designed for continued state-of-the-art upgrades.

 

Chief Kim C. Dine says, “the safety of our sworn and civilian personnel is of the highest priority and we would like to thank the Members of Congress for providing this state-of-the-art critical life and safety tool for our agency.  This day marked a significant milestone for the USCP.”

 

Successful implementation of this new radio system involved partnerships with numerous entities and the USCP would like to thank our partners whose collaboration made this milestone possible.  The men and women of the Department are especially grateful for the support provided by the Congress, Congressional leadership, the leadership of the Appropriations and Oversight Committees, as well as their professional staffs, and the Capitol Police Board.  We are particularly thankful for their support in receiving funding, assistance, and supportive oversight of this critical life safety tool and the radio modernization program as a whole.

 

Additionally, the Department is grateful for our partnership with the Architect of the Capitol and Naval Air Systems Command in designing, implementing and executing this complex state-of-the-art digital and encrypted radio system.  Furthermore, we are grateful for the oversight and partnership of the Government Accountability Office during this transformational effort.  Their participation assisted the Department in both the technical and program management areas.

 

It is estimated that the shutdown of the old analog system will occur in approximately thirty days.  Over the next thirty days, we will employ several strategies to continue the smooth transition to a digital environment and ensure employee comfort and familiarity with their equipment while adapting to a digital radio system.  During the next thirty days, the USCP will continue to employ post-migration optimization measures meant to fine-tune the system while it is in use.

 

If there are any questions about the information in this press release, please contact Lieutenant Kimberly Schneider or Officer Shennell Antrobus in the U.S. Capitol Police Public Information Office.

 

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        Prepared by:
     
       
        Lieutenant Kimberly Schneider
     
       
        United States Capitol Police
     
       
     Public Information Officer

       
     
       
      
     
       

 

 

About the U.S. Capitol Police:

 

The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) is comprised of over 2,000 sworn and civilian employees.  

The USCP is the sole federal law enforcement agency in the Legislative Branch of government whose mission it is to protect the Congress, its legislative processes, Members, employees, visitors, and facilities from crime, disruption, or terrorism.  We protect and secure Congress so it can fulfill its constitutional responsibilities in a safe and open environment.

 

 

 

 

Lieutenant Kimberly Schneider

Public Information Officer • Office of the Chief

www.uscapitolpolice.gov • www.visitthecapitol.gov

 

U.S. CAPITOL POLICE BACKGROUNDER - RADIO MODERNIZATION PROJECT

QUICK FACTS:

The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) is comprised of over 2,000 sworn and civilian employees. The USCP is the sole federal law enforcement agency in the Legislative Branch of government whose mission it is to protect the Congress, its legislative processes, Members, employees, visitors, and facilities from crime, disruption, or terrorism. We protect and secure Congress so it can fulfill its constitutional responsibilities in a safe and open environment.

OLD ANALOG RADIO SYSTEM:

The USCP replaced its old non-encrypted, analog, outdoor VHF radio system which provided indoor coverage that had been in use for several decades.

o This outdoor system penetrated the insides of the buildings with radio signals from the exterior environment.

o With several areas within the Capitol complex where there was no radio coverage, and with only five analog channels, the old analog system was capacity-constrained.

NEW DIGITAL RADIO SYSTEM:

The new encrypted, 14-channel, digital trunked P25 radio system provides greater interior and exterior coverage, more capacity, improved voice quality, greater interoperability, and offers greater network redundancy within the system.

- The new radios are the latest Motorola technology and are designed for continued state of the art upgrades. The new radio system is future ready and provides greater indoor coverage by utilizing over 1,400 distributed antennas throughout the buildings.

- Technically advanced, noise cancelling and dual-microphone features deliver higher audio and clearer radio communications regardless of events taking place in the background.

- The new radios have been installed and programmed in 100% of all USCP fleet vehicles.

- To provide continuity of operations, this project included the development of two new communications centers to replace the old communications center previously located in USCP Headquarters.

- Library Division officers no longer need to carry two radios (one Library of Congress, from the earlier Library of Congress Police era & one USCP)—Library Division officers now carry one radio.

- Extended battery life on the portable radios carries the user longer through a shift (sustains 12 hours vs. 8 hours).

- The extended radio antenna on our portable radios increases reception and coverage.

- Emergency identifier button (“officer in trouble” button) is now more accessible (on top of the microphone piece, and on the radio unit itself).

30-DAY POST-MIGRATION OPTIMIZATION:

This thirty day period will allow the USCP to identify and correct any potential individual user issues or locate dead coverage spots not found during system acceptance testing. Our dispatchers have been making periodic announcements covering every shift over the radio to provide guidance and instructions, while our IT technicians have maintained operational coverage in order to respond to any questions and handle on-site matters. Our IT Help Desk will continue to remain operational 24 hours a day from February 24 to February 28 to respond to questions regarding the use of the radio and to coordinate with radio technicians for action.

BUDGET:

- The radio modernization project began in 2006.

- A 2004 cost estimate of $35M was limited to upgrading the old analog system and did not include a cost estimate for a digital system + infrastructure, etc.

- A total of $106,426,519 has been appropriated to fund the radio modernization system project.

- $103.6M obligated to date.

- USCP realized savings through NAVAIR’s awards of technology contracts, and utilized this savings to achieve added capacity that did not require Congress to appropriate any additional funding.

o Installation of the new radio system in the O’Neill Building (not included in original project scope): USCP was able to find the savings in the original appropriations from Congress.

o Covered the cost to complete the project associated with infrastructure work in historical buildings not originally designed to support the wiring and equipment necessary for this new digital radio system.

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Prepared by:
Lieutenant Kimberly Schneider
Public Information Officer
www.uscapitolpolice.gov