Resources and Helpful Information

S&T developed certification marks to underscore the process leading to the identification of P25 CAP compliant radios. Only properly certified recognized laboratories and accrediting bodies are entitled to use the P25 CAP certification mark upon execution of a licensing agreement with DHS.

• P25 CAP Recognized Laboratory Certification Mark Usage Guidelines
• P25 CAP Accreditation Body Certification Mark Usage Guidelines

For information on executing a licensing agreement to use a P25 CAP certification mark, please contact P25CAP@hq.dhs.gov.

S&T's OIC-TC plays a key role in support of public safety’s use of P25 radio systems. OIC-TC established the P25 Compliance Assessment Program (P25 CAP) as a partnership with industry and the emergency response community. P25 CAP is a formal, independent process for ensuring communications equipment declared by the supplier actually is P25 compliant and tested against the standards with publicly published results.

APCO is committed to continued support of P25, a longstanding partnership between the public safety communications community, standard development organizations and industry manufacturers.

CISA plays a key role in ensuring federal, state, local, tribal and territorial agencies have the necessary plans, resources and training needed to support operable and advanced interoperable emergency communications.

• Emergency Alarm: Project 25 Inter-RF Subsystem Interface (ISSI) and Console Subsystem Interface (CSSI) Features and Functions White Paper
• The Patching and Dynamic Regrouping: Project 25 Inter-RF Subsystem Interface (ISSI) and Console Subsystem Interface (CSSI) Features and Functions White Paper
• Land Mobile Radio (LMR) / Long Term Evolution (LTE) Integration: Best Practices White Paper

PTIG promotes the success of Project 25 and educates interested parties on the benefits that the standard offers. It is a group of individuals and organizations who share the mutual interest of advancing the refinement, development, deployment and applications of the digital communications technology represented by Project 25 industry standards. PTIG members include two-way radio communications experts, public safety professionals and equipment manufacturers. PTIG members recognize the need for, and have a direct stake in, the continued development of the critical communications capabilities represented in the P25 standards.

TIA is the leading trade association representing the global information and communications technology industry through standards development, policy initiatives, business opportunities, market intelligence and networking events. TIA is a Standards Development Organization (SDO) and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

• The TIA-TR-8 Mobile and Personal Private Radio Standards Committee develops and publishes the TIA-102 Standard, which is then adopted by the P25 Steering Committee as the Project 25 Standard.
• TIA maintains engineering subcommittees to develop and update P25/TIA-102 standards.
• TIA develops standardized test procedures for P25/TIA-102 standards, which are then referenced in Recommended Compliance Assessment Tests (RCATs) documents. The P25 CAP Compliance Assessment Bulletins (CABs) use the test procedures published by TIA for P25 CAP testing. Having defined test procedures to help validate whether P25 equipment meets the standard is important. However, it should be noted that not all published P25 standards are tested.

The Project 25 Steering Committee is the governing authority of Project 25 and has the sole authority to approve a standards proposal, telecommunications system bulletin or white paper as a Project 25 standard. In 1992, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was executed between the founding organizations (APCO, NASTD and the U.S. federal government) and TIA defining the roles, responsibilities and authority of the Project 25 Steering Committee. In accordance with the MOU, the Steering Committee works closely with manufacturers to develop and maintain a suite of standards that best serves the continually evolving needs of the public safety community.

The Steering Committee membership is comprised of public safety users and user representatives from APCO, NASTD, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC), an associate member from the University of Melbourne (Australia) representing academia, and four federal departments/agencies: DHS, Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

For further information on the makeup and functions of the P25 Steering Committee please refer to the Bylaws.

• Project 25 Steering Committee Representative Handbook

The User Needs Subcommittee (UNS) is a permanent subcommittee to the Project 25 Steering Committee under the Project 25 Bylaws. Membership in the UNS is open to a broad range of public safety users and user representatives and provides a forum whereby the public safety user community can discuss needs and provide feedback on Project 25 capabilities and functions. The UNS submits this input to the Project 25 Steering Committee and provides an opportunity for improved user education and information-sharing. The UNS is a non-quorum advisory group to the Project 25 Steering Committee, which allows for a more open meeting structure and broad participation from across the user community.

• Statement of Project 25 User Needs

• DHS Recognizes DOI Lab to Perform Rigorous P25 CAP Testing
• DHS P25 CAP Expands Program to Include ISSI/CSSI Equipment
• DHS Releases Two Compliance Assessment Bulletins for Public Comment
• DHS Releases Compliance Assessment Bulletin for 30 Day Public Comment
• P25 Compliance: What should it mean to you?
• DHS S&T Establishes Advisory Panel to Help Ensure Radio Interoperability Among First Responders