Key Takeaways:
- The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) plays a crucial role in ensuring reliable communication systems for homeland security operators.
- S&T partners with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial responders to equip them with innovative tools and solutions for communication systems.
- The directorate is working to extend coverage in remote border regions and maritime domains through the use of direct-to-cell satellite solutions.
- S&T is developing push-to-talk solutions to enable multi-agency response and is testing these solutions for standards compliance and interoperability.
- The directorate is also working to mitigate the threat of illegal jamming of communication systems and is developing training materials to increase awareness.
Introduction to S&T’s Role in Homeland Security
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) plays a vital role in ensuring the reliability and resilience of communication systems for homeland security operators. As the primary agency responsible for securing the homeland, it is essential that these operators have access to communication systems that are available, interoperable, and resilient. S&T partners with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial responders to equip them with innovative tools and solutions that enable them to exchange real-time information when, where, and how they need to conduct mission-critical operations.
Advancing Communications for Border and Maritime Operations
Many Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operators who work in remote border regions and maritime domains face challenging environments and terrain that are beyond the reach of wireless radio or cellular technologies. To address this challenge, S&T is advising the Department on how to extend coverage, including exploring the use and availability of direct-to-cell satellite solutions. This includes monitoring cost savings, technical limitations, and the effectiveness of these technologies for situational awareness applications that require exchanging larger amounts of data. In 2026, S&T will test these systems against DHS requirements for bandwidth, speed, and security, helping Components make informed decisions on how to improve network availability in the field.
Enabling Multi-Agency Response through Push-to-Talk Solutions
Not all radios, cellular devices, or applications are standards-based or even interoperable, and any connection failure can have dire operational consequences. S&T is closing the gap through research, testing, and standards implementation, particularly with push-to-talk voice communication technologies that are widely used across DHS. The Department’s push-to-talk platforms provide walkie-talkie capabilities via smartphone applications. S&T is creating an interoperability testing framework to identify gaps between different platforms as well as partnering with industry to develop a broadband-based solution to close them. The directorate is also testing and validating push-to-talk apps for standards compliance and interoperability.
Maintaining Connectivity when Networks are Down or Jammed
DHS has warned that illegal jamming is a growing threat to communication systems like GPS, radios, mobile phones, and wireless systems, yet many federal law enforcement officers and first responders across the country may not recognize jamming when they see it. S&T serves as the Department’s counter-jamming experts, researching evolving threats, testing system resiliency against jammers, developing mitigation solutions to detect and mitigate jamming impacts, and developing training materials to increase awareness. The directorate recently participated in Spectrum Cyclone, a communications-driven exercise hosted by the State of Washington and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, designed to prepare for the 2026 World Cup. S&T trained DHS operators and state and local public safety personnel on how to identify, locate, and mitigate radio frequency interference and cyberattacks that could disrupt security operations at the events.
Ensuring Resilient Solutions and Alternative Pathways
When faced with jamming, network interference, or unreliable coverage, DHS Components require resilient solutions and alternative pathways to communicate. S&T is actively focused on 5G/6G standards development activities that ensure enhanced resiliency for end users, bringing industry attention to the Department’s needs. By integrating their requirements early in the standards development process, S&T builds resilience from chip sets up through the network infrastructure. This approach enables the development of communication systems that are more resistant to jamming and other forms of interference, ensuring that homeland security operators have access to reliable communication systems when they need them most.
Conclusion and Additional Resources
In conclusion, S&T plays a critical role in ensuring the reliability and resilience of communication systems for homeland security operators. The directorate’s work in advancing communications for border and maritime operations, enabling multi-agency response through push-to-talk solutions, maintaining connectivity when networks are down or jammed, and ensuring resilient solutions and alternative pathways is essential to the success of homeland security operations. For more information on S&T’s work in this area, visit the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility site or listen to the Technologically Speaking Podcast: Getting Creative About How to Get the Message Through.
