This Updated FAQ document has 14 new questions and significant changes to P25 testing questions from the recent Compliance Assessment Program (CAP) open meeting. In addition, the document has been reconfigured to categorize the questions by topic making the document easier to use for quick reference.

The first category is now an individual section for a P25 Standards Overview, including a question on how the P25 Standards are created. The second category deals with P25 Compliance testing and has been updated to reflect the latest DHS OIC Web links and document availability. The other categories include information that describes the relationship of P25 to other radio technologies, Interoperability possible through the numerous Project 25 interfaces with real world examples of existing systems, and the Project 25 Security Services available.   

PTIG offers the FAQ tool to Public Safety and government users who need to deliver a simplified, top level, answer to typical P25 questions received from non-technologist personnel including Police Officers, Fire fighters, administrators, procurement contracting officers. Most of the questions have been received by PTIG at various P25 conference panels and trade shows that the group participates in.

The Project 25 Suite of Standards will continue to evolve to meet the needs of users and to incorporate changing technology and regulatory mandates.  Similarly, this document will also evolve over time.  Subsequent versions will add new questions and clarify answers reflecting the latest updates to the P25 Standard.

Copies of the new Project 25 Frequently Asked Questions v1.2 document can be found and downloaded from the link below

P25 FAQs September 2016 v1.3

The Project 25 Technology Interest Group welcomes Compliance Testing LLC as a new Commercial member of PTIG.   Compliance Testing LLC has prepared a report detailing the the P25 Testing Update presented by DHS OIC and the Compliance Assessment Program Advisory Panel at their open meeting held during the APCO 2016 conference in Orlando.   

The introduction to the report by Chris Lougee, Director of New Business Development, Compliance Testing LLC :

"The P25 Compliance Assessment Program (P25 CAP) Advisory Panel (AP) held it’s second in-person meeting on August 17, 2016, in Orlando, FL, during the APCO International Conference. The stated purpose was to implement P25 policies, identify priorities, establish the path forward, increase awareness of the P25 CAP AP and how it can positively impact P25.

The room was “packed” with 57 users, manufacturers, associations, Public Safety agency representatives, other interested parties and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials and staff who convened the meeting. The morning session included presentations by Sridhar Kowdley, DHS-S&T Program Manager, and by Fire Chief Gerald Reardon, City of Cambridge Massachusetts Fire Departments, P25CAP AP Chair. In the afternoon a lively and substantive Q&A session involved the P25 CAP panel members, those attending in-person and on the phone and questions submitted prior to the meeting were answered too.

Many thought the P25 CAP was “dead” a couple of years ago. After a transfusion of DHS-S&T leadership, new energy, additional staff, appointment of a well-qualified Advisory Panel and continued strong support from industry, the P25 CAP is out of the “ICU.” Showing strong signs of life now, P25 CAP has definitely moved to “Recovery,” but much work is remaining to get the patient fully back on its feet.

The Project 25 Technology Interest Group (PTIG) held it’s Annual Meeting in conjunction with the APCO International Conference in Orlando on August 14^th. At that meeting, a Board of Directors and Officers were elected. A number of new Board members were elected from the Public Safety Radio User Community to fill vacancies created as previous members moved on. These include:

Scott Wright

Scott Wright is a Telecommunications Engineer with the Connecticut Department of Emergency Service and Public Protection and has worked for the State for 26 years. In his role with the State, Mr. Wright supports the State trunked and conventional radio systems. He serves on a number of committees, including: P25 User Needs Study Committee (vice chair), State Interoperable Communications Executive Committee (technical committee chair), RPC19 (technical committee chair), the Federal Partnership for Interoperable Communications, and a number of others. Mr. Wright holds a number of public safety certifications and FCC licenses.

Brent Finster

Brent is the Communications Center Manager for the University of Hawai’i Department of Public Safety with 35 years of experience in law enforcement, fire, EMS and public safety communications. Trading one island for another, Brent most recently was the Director of Public Safety Communications for the Cayman Islands Government during the past seven years.  Prior to his Caribbean assignment, he was the telecommunications manager for the Contra Costa County Fire District in the San Francisco Bay Area. Brent originally hails from Colorado where he served as the communications director in Aspen and as a communications supervisor/dispatcher in Boulder.  He has been a deputy sheriff, EMT and fire chief.  Brent has attended Aims Community College (fire science technology), Colorado Mountain College (law enforcement academy) and the University of Colorado School of Journalism. He has been awarded Life and Senior Membership in the Association of Public-safety Communications Officials International (APCO).

Christie Bielby

Christie has worked in Public Safety Communications for almost 30 years.  She is currently responsible for the Administration of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s newly purchased P25 trunked system, subscriber programming templates, and coordination of encryption for The Texas DPS Communication Service and liaison for other state and local agencies.  She has also been involved with the FPIC Security Working Group for the last few years.

Other P25 radio Users and practitioners returning to the PTIG Board include: Del Smith- Alaska ALMR, Brad Stoddard-State of Michigan; Brandon Diemer-BLM NIFC, Eric Davies- DHS; Karl Larson-City of Portland; Jim Junkins-Harrisonburg/Rockingham VA; John Richards-State of Maine; George Crouch-State of South Carolina and Vice Chair Project 25 Steering Committee; Eric Linsley-Mobile County Alabama; and Cindy Cast- Miami Dade County.

The PTIG Board also welcomes a new Commercial member, Todd Perdieu, representing Harris Corporation. PTIG Board returning Commercial Members include: Andy Davis-Motorola Solutions and TIA TR-8 Chair; Chris Lougee 5 x 9 Communications; Jim Holthaus RELM and TIA PRS and TIA TR8.25 chair; Cheryl Giggetts-AECOM; Neil Horden-Federal Engineering; Roy McClellan- Airbus DSC; Doug Chapman-Etherstack; Robin Grier-Catalyst; Sanjay Patel-IDA.

The PTIG Slate of Officers were also nominated and elected at the Annual Meeting. Chairman: Del Smith, Vice Chairman: Jim Holthaus, Treasurer: Chris Lougee, Secretary: Andy Davis.

Stephen Nichols was appointed to continue as Executive Director for the non-profit organization.

The Project 25 Technology interest Group (PTIG) has published the latest summary of P25 Standards Meetings proceedings from the June Meetings held in Kansas City.

This document highlights TR-8 accomplishments and work in progress for 2016. The document is updated after every TR-8 face to face meeting occurring in 2016. The filename reflects the date of the latest update. After the first 2016 version, each update will use blue font to indicate changes from the most recent meetings.

The full report can be accessed using the link below:

P25 TIA TR-8 Meetings Summary June 2016