The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) branch, the District of Columbia (DC), and ISCO International, Inc. [ISO], are partnering to field a communications pilot program to demonstrate how to connect existing wireless radio systems with broadband technologies such as laptop computers and smart phones. The Radio Over Wireless Broadband (ROW-B) project is using ISCO’s Clarity Public Safety solution to create an interoperable solution between radio and broadband systems. “The capability to communicate among radio and broadband system users will significantly improve emergency response operations by allowing non-radio users to communicate with response units in the field,” says David Boyd, director of S&T’s Command, Control and Interoperability Division. DHS says that in addition to traditional, handheld or vehicle mounted radios, emergency responders are also using separate, wireless broadband systems to communicate. The broadband services are often supplied by a commercial cellular supplier. Radio and broadband systems are not designed to communicate with each other. The ROW-B pilot was begun in July to connect the DC Office of the Chief Technology Officer’s existing land mobile radio system, which are wireless radio systems that are either handheld or vehicle mounted, with broadband devices using the Bridging Systems Interface. This will allow a single user to reach multiple users through talk groups on a city operated broadband network, DHS says.