Overview

The purpose of the Wireless Data Communications Standard is to establish a seamless wireless data communications infrastructure that will enhance the Commonwealth’s ability to deliver effective and timely emergency services to its citizens and avoid the creation of separate disparate non-interoperable wireless data communication networks.

The Commonwealth recognizes the emergence of data communications as an integral role in providing emergency services to the citizens of the Commonwealth.  Sharing information among public safety first responders is a critical link in protecting the citizens of the Commonwealth.  Currently, the Commonwealth is witnessing the deployment of wireless data communication networks across the state.  Urban areas, such as Lexington and Louisville, have historically been the first to deploy wireless data technology.  However, rural areas such as the Center for Rural Development have developed a region wide wireless data communication network for their emergency responder that encompasses 42 counties.  With the infusion of funding from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, it is expected that the Commonwealth will see an increase in both urban and rural deployments of wireless data communication networks in the near future.

Public Safety Agencies throughout the Commonwealth are recognizing the positive role mobile data computing can play to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public safety first-responders.  With the infusion of funding from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, it is expected that the Commonwealth will see an increase in deployments of wireless data communication networks across the state.  According to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, approximately 40 public safety agencies have been awarded grants to build or enhance their wireless data communication networks.  However, without a wireless data communication standard, the Commonwealth will witness an emergence of disparate wireless data stove pipe systems that are not interoperable with each other. 
  
Taking a preemptive approach to establish wireless data interoperability standards before the wireless data systems are deployed will enable public safety first responders to communicate with each other in order to manage emergencies effectively within a Day-to-Day, Mutual Aid Disaster Response, / Coordination, and Task Force situation.

To implement a standards-compliant architecture designed to provide wireless data communications for all executive agencies of state government in the application of public safety wireless information technologies to allow effective, efficient, and reliable intra-agency and inter-agency interoperable communications when responding to routine public safety operations and/or major incidents such as airplane crashes, terrorist attacks, bombings, flooding, forest fires, or tornados that is cost effective and deployable in a timely fashion by maximizing the use of new or upgraded radios, base station/repeaters, tower sites, and dispatch centers throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  The scope of this paper will propose a standard for wireless data communication interoperability to use in a Day-to-Day, Mutual Aid - Disaster Response / Coordination, and Task Force incident situations.

To achieve wireless data interoperability, the KWIEC's Architecture and Standards Sub-Committee, Chaired by Ken Born, was tasked to develop a wireless data interoperability standard for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

At a minimum, the physical and logical interface components are necessary for wireless data interoperability:

1. Wireless Data Infrastructure (Physical)
2. Wireless Data Exchange (Logical)

When used together, these two components enable users to interoperate and exchange data communications directly between units and across networks.

Types of Standards:  There are two types of standards in the Information Technology industry: De-jure and De-facto standards. De-jure standards are those defined and approved by a recognized standardization body such as the TIA, ISO and IEEE while a De-facto standard is developed by one or several companies that have established itself as the preponderant standard with the vast majority of users in the market place. 

The decision making process of the sub-committee was first to decide if a De-jure standard is adequate for today and tomorrow’s public safety wireless data needs and if it is not, then a De-facto standard would need to be identified and established.  The De-facto standard would be selected by identifying one vendor that had established their wireless data standard among the vast majority of public safety users in the Commonwealth.

The KWIEC's Architecture and Standards Working Group determined that the De-jure data rate speed of 9.6 KBs was inadequate and believes a De-facto standard should be identified and established.  The Working Group believes “there is a De-facto standard established by one vendor due to the preponderant and vast majority of public safety users and recommends the IPMobileNet Wireless Data Specification Standard to be used for the Commonwealth’s Public Safety Wireless Data Communication Infrastructure operating in the 800 MHz Frequency Band.”  The IPMobileNet data rate is 19.2 KBs which is twice that of the De-jure Standard of 9.6 KBs.

IPMobileNet Wireless Data Infrastructure Standard operating within the 800 MHz Frequency Band using a data rate of 19.2 KBs.