Chapter 4. Challenges and Options For Information Exchange

This chapter provides an overview of key challenges and barriers to information exchange among centers, as well as alternatives to overcome them. The chapter discusses center policies and regulatory issues, technical challenges, and potential solutions.

Primarily, the communications and data management capabilities needed to address information-sharing are within today’s state of the art. Appendices E and G of this report address the reliability, security, and vulnerability of the information sources, data transmission channels, and equipment.

When analog television converted to digital television on June 17, 2009, the 700 MHz spectrum that broadcasters owned for that purpose was no longer needed. That spectrum was turned back to the Federal government to allow the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal agency that manages the spectrum, to begin the process of reallocating the spectrum. In July 2007, in advance of the conversion to digital television, the FCC revised the 700 MHz band plan and service rules to promote the creation of a nationwide interoperable broadband network for public safety and to facilitate the availability of new and innovative wireless broadband services for consumers.

During the summer of 2009, following the conversion, the National Interoperability Information eXchange (NIIX)[45], as part of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership) through their Governance and Operations Working Groups, has developed definitions and other material to help define who should be included to use the national interoperable broadband wireless spectrum.

This chapter primarily focuses on three topics—privacy, security, and (on the technical side) data integration and vulnerability.

[45] See National Interoperability Information eXchange, accessed 2010.

June 2010
Publication #FHWA-HOP-09-003