The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International has received a Grant Award from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology Directorate for the implementation of Project 25 (P25) & Computer Assisted Pre-Coordination Resource & Database System (CAPRAD) Restructuring.

Grant support is being phased in with an initial award of $250,000 for the first six months.  Continuation funding is expected at a level of $900,000 per year for up to three additional grant cycles, pending availability of funds and successful re-application.

The grant scope involves a restructuring of P25 governance to raise the effectiveness of user input on features and functionality requirements of this interoperable land mobile radio platform.  For CAPRAD, there are funds to maintain and enhance the database.  APCO will also provide support services to the fifty-five Regional Planning Committees and the National Regional Planning Council to streamline frequency license applications through CAPRAD.

“This is a hopeful sign that renewed attention is being placed on P25 and CAPRAD, which are initiatives that have spanned 25 years and 15 years respectively.  With this grant, we enter into an important new phase designed to restructure both to enhance their effectiveness in support of the first responder community,” said APCO President John Wright.

To learn more about P25, visit: http://www.apcointl.org/spectrum-management/resources/interoperability/p25.html

To learn more about CAPRAD, visit: http://caprad.org/cp/index.jsp

APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole.