Usage of commercial satellite systems for homeland security communications

Since the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks on September 11th, homeland security has been redirected to account for potential terrorist attacks and other national disasters. The difficulty of many of the first responders (such as local fire, police, and search and rescue departments) to communicate with themselves and other federal agencies confirmed the need for an interoperable and flexible communication infrastruchke. In a disaster situation, such as that experienced after the September 11th attacks, the communication links used by emergency response agencies can be greatly damaged or even destroyed. Since many of these agencies must make timecritical decisions, there may not be enough time for communication links to be restored using conventional mobile ground or airborne nodes. Communication volume and connectivity during and immediately following a major event is typically very chaotic and can involve multiple systems as a function of time or distance from the focal point of activity. Nominally it is quite likely the communication requirements in the immediate vicinity of an event will be extensive, and the need to communicate beyond those boundaries will evolve with time as information is obtained and support is needed from other entities. Providing additional communication links from the immediate vicinity to regional and extended reach zones could be accomplished with access to commercial satellite networks. In this paper, the application of commercial satellite systems to aid and supplement communications for homeland security is investigated.