A number of articles have surfaced in the media recently regarding firefighter safety while using digital radios. These articles are not accurate about the problem or the solution and could be misleading to those in emergency response agencies responsible for the safety of first responders.

Background and Action Taken
As a result of voice audio distortion occurring in digital radios in the presence of background noise (e.g., low air alarms, power equipment, etc.), the IAFC board of directors took steps to address this serious problem. Chief Douglas Aiken, chair of the Communications Committee, appointed Chief Charles Werner to chair a new Digital Problem Working Group. At its first meeting in May 2007, Chief Werner appointed two task groups:

The testing task group is focused on long-term technical solutions.
The best practices task group is looking for immediate short-term ways to mitigate the problem.

The working group, as well as the two task groups, is populated with first responders, radio manufacturers and equipment manufacturers. This is an all-hands operation.

The IAFC’s Digital Problem Working Group is working closely with the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) to identify the exact nature of the problem and what technical steps will be necessary for a long-term solution. No other group has better or more credible information. Unfortunately, there are no silver bullets.

Next Steps
A meeting of the working group is scheduled for mid-May at the NIST facility in Boulder, Colo. The purpose of the meeting is to finalize the best practices and review the current technical efforts to resolve the noise issue that adversely affects the operation of digital radios. A status report will be issued in June to give guidance to public-safety departments currently using, or planning to use, digital radios for mission-critical voice communications.

For more information or to get involved, go to www.iafc.org/digitalProblem.