DoJ report attacks Wi-Fi project
p2pnet.net news:- A $5 billion US-wide narrowband Wi-Fi network meant to hook up the departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Treasury is in serious danger of foundering because of, “uncertain funding to complete the project, disparate departmental funding mechanisms, a fractured IWN (Integrated Wireless Network ) partnership, and the lack of an effective governing structure for the project,” says a government audit.
US federal law enforcement agencies needed communicate more effectively with each other and the treasury agreed in 2004 to jointly develop IWN to support some 81,000 federal agents in 50 states and the US territories.
But the report, by justice department inspector general Glenn A. Fine, says the IWN partnership and “disjointed approach of the two primary partners to achieve the IWN goals” threatens the IWN program.
The DoJ, “has been relying on IWN to address a myriad of problems with its current wireless communications systems, which consist of multiple stove-piped land mobile radio systems with infrastructure dating back 15 to 20 years,” says Fine.
“Over the years, the performance of these systems has degraded in terms of coverage, reliability, and usability. Of the Department’s 4,163 radio system sites, 3,022 are no longer supported by the manufacturer, which means spare parts are difficult to find and maintenance is essentially a ‘custom service.’ In addition, much of the Department’s current radio equipment is large and obtrusive.
“We were told that the size of current hand-held radios, combined with their limited functionality and decreasing reliability, has lead some DOJ agents to use commercial cellular telephones and walkie-talkies that are vulnerable to interception in lieu of hand-held radios.”
To replace the department’s “antiquated legacy wireless communications equipment” would cost some $900 million, but the DOJ, “will require more than twice that amount to fund its share of IWN,” says Progress Report on Development of the Integrated Wireless Network in the Department of Justice, going on, “Consequently, for the DOJ, DHS, and Treasury to complete IWN as planned, a major infusion of funding will be required over the next several years.”
What to do?
“We recommend that DOJ establish an agreement with the DHS and Treasury departments that accurately reflects each agencys commitment to the IWN project,” says the report.
If they can’t agree on a unified approach, “we recommend that the DOJ notify Congress and the Office of Management and Budget that the IWN project is not viable as a joint project with DHS, and that DOJ and Treasury are pursuing their own IWN strategy to meet their department’s wireless communications requirements.”
Add the recommendations:
“In addition, if DOJ is unable to reach agreement on a unified approach with DHS and Treasury, the DOJ must develop and implement a departmental plan to upgrade its legacy wireless communications systems.
“We also recommend that the Assistant Attorney General for Administration ensure that an agreement is reached that allows DOJ to continue its wideband operations on very high and ultra high frequencies without interference.”
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