Use of the equipment to interface with other emergency dept equipment. Use of the equipment in remote areas, to include x miles out to sea. Use of this equipment to interface with US Mil MSE system, Data over Tactical Radio (Sincgars), Data over Mil Sat, and use of Encrypted 802.11b/a systems.
Christopher J.Samp
MSG, Intelligence NCO
S-2/ 3rd BDE/ 40 ID (M), Calf Army Nt. Grd.

Price of the system was also a recurring theme with respondents. Many agencies stated that they currently had no ability to find funds for this or any other system. However, the exit survey showed, on a scale of one to ten, an average score of 8.4 (lowest 4; highest 10) reported they would pursue a system such as this if government funds became available either directly or in grant form.

This has several good uses for us within the emergency and homeland security venues... but again cost is a primary factor for us.
Chip Maher, Director of Emergency Services
Florida Wing Civil Air Patrol

In reporting these findings back to wireless service providers such as WebLink Wireless and Nextel, there was an expressed interest in assisting all emergency service organizations in price constraints and a willingness to discuss coverage expansion on a case-by-case basis. This would likely be implemented in the form of nationally negotiated contracts with minimums required to assist a much broader base of emergency service organizations. In addition, there was an interest in expanding coverage to critical areas if: 1) costs of these expansions were shared, or 2) there were sufficient wireless devices and airtime to justify the added costs.
Regardless of the willingness of carriers to assist in the areas in which they do have control, there appears to be a significant shortfall in many emergency service organizations to stay current with the latest technology (wireless or otherwise) mainly due to budget constraints. Our assessment was only focused on their current use of wireless technology but there is clearly a larger problem of funding projects of any kind.
The implications of this under-funding and the inability of our emergency services to better manage their mobile personnel are expanding. Cutbacks in state budgets are inevitable due to shortfalls in tax revenues in a difficult economy. Some states, such as California are facing some of the most challenging
economic climates in history. The Los Angeles Times recently reported (April 13, 2003) that the state is expected to cut services and raise taxes to offset close to a $30 billion deficit. As it is unclear specifically when funds from Washington D.C. will be used in each state, it is clear that each state will have some challenges ahead in how to manage these funds when they arrive.