Archive for April, 2009

At 2 p.m. EST/11 a.m. PST today (April 28), I wil be moderating a webinar on the topic of mobile broadband data for first responders. I will be joined by Steve Jennings, chief information officer for Harris County (Texas) and Jon Fullinwider, chief information officer (retired) for Los Angeles County. The webinar, which is sponsored by Motorola, will examine the evolution of data networks used in the public-safety sector, and provide insight as to the future evolution and the opportunities it will bring. I hope you’ll be able to particpate. To do so, click here.

My favorite television program is NCIS, an acronym that stands for naval criminal investigation service. Two of the investigators are techno geeks who possess impressive degrees from even more impressive institutions. Their combination of intellect and quick wit makes them a cross between Albert Einstein and Jason Bourne.

They do have one habit that’s quite annoying, at least from the perspective of their boss, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs: they have a tendency to speak in techno geek, and the typically stern Gibbs — no dummy himself — constantly reminds them to relay their discoveries to him in terms the erstwhile navy gunnery sergeant can grasp.

Yesterday, Juliette Kayyem, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intergovernmental Programs, offered similar advice to the roughly 400 attendees of the National Conference on Emergency Communications in Chicago, which is being presented by the DHS Office of Emergency Communications. Kayyem reminded attendees that while they might not see themselves as politicians, they need the support and authorization of policymakers for the communications projects they are contemplating. She advised, “Talk to them in English.”

It’s advice that would bring a smile to the face of Agent Gibbs.

You can always tell a good party by the buzz. I don’t mean the kind that one gets when too many adult beverages have been quaffed. Rather, I’m writing of the buzz one feels when one walks into a room.

At one point in my career I worked in the convention and trade-show sector. The mantra was, if you want to put on a great party for a thousand people, put it into a room that holds 500. Instant buzz.

Yesterday, I stopped by the National Emergency Communications Conference, which the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communications conveniently placed in Chicago, where I work. Roughly 400 public-safety communications officials were gathered, some from as far away as Guam. After introductory remarks by OEC Director Chris Essid, the group — which was scattered among numerous large, round banquet tables — was asked to talk among themselves and trade ideas.

This is where the rubber meets the road at any event. It’s how you can tell whether people want to be at the event, or have to be there. If it’s the former, they go through the motions. If it’s the latter, they engage. Yesterday they engaged.

The buzz in the room was noticeable — it sounded as if dozens of cell phones set on vibrate mode all went off at the same time. One of Essid’s stated goals for the OEC’s National Emergency Communications Plan is to break down the silos that have retarded progress toward interoperable communications. By that measure, yesterday was a good day.