INDUSTRY NEWS
Internet Hacker Offers MDT Decoder
In an alarming account first published in the February, 1997, issue of Dispatch Monthly, editor Gary Allen reported the existence of a computer program offered by an anonymous computer hacker on the Internet which will allegedly allow anyone with the right equipment to retrieve mobile data terminal (MDT) text communications between comm centers and police, fire, and EMS field units.
Singling out Motorola, the hacker posted an alleged C programming code to allow someone to receive transmissions made by Motorola's MDC4800 MDT system. Even more disconcerting was the suggestion by the hacker that this program could allow a recipient to transmit fraudulent messages at the base station's frequency to a nearby MDT, potentially sending officers on phony calls. The hacker's congenial message concluded with an offensive quantity of profanities describing retaliations upon anyone who might try to make money from his or her program.
9-1-1 Magazine talked with Motorola to find out if such a decoding program could, in fact, exist, and, if so, what steps could be taken by Motorola to protect users from interception of MDT transmissions. "We, of course, deplore the irresponsible actions of any individual who attempts to improperly use someone else's proprietary information to interfere with needed public services," said Mike Doheny, Senior Program Manager, Public Relations, for Motorola's Land Mobile Products Sector.
"Wireless transmissions, whether voice or data, are not immune from the actions of a determined hacker," Doheny acknowledged. "Indeed, wireline computer users have confronted the same problem for years. However, interception and use of wireless data is technically complex and requires sophisticated knowledge of a complicated Rf frequency and computer technology."
In order for the hacker to actually send data messages, said Doheny, he or she would need "to complete the difficult task of obtaining or making an illegal transmitter and then customizing a software program along with extensive monitoring and `tweaking' of the system." Doheny noted that any operation of such an illegal transmitter would expose the individual to detection and apprehension.
"Since this process requires complex and sophisticated technical knowledge, as well as the violation of numerous state and federal laws, we believe the actual risk of this unauthorized intersection and use of radio data communications is low," Doheny concluded. "However, we recommend that public safety wireless data users exercise similar security precautions to protect their systems and information as they do for their wireline data operations."
Doheny welcomes inquiries about this matter. Contact him at cmd008@email.mot.com.
FCC Sets 3-1-1 Aside for Non Emergency Calls
The Federal Communications Commissions announced on February 19th that it has directed Bell Communications Research (Bellcore), in its capacity as North American Numbering Plan administrator, to set aside 3-1-1 as a code to be used for the public to reach non-emergency police and other governmental services (such as fire or ambulance). "The Order does not obligate any entity to adopt 3-1-1," said the FCC. "Rather it ensures than any local entity that wishes to use 3-1-1 has the option to do so."
APCO, while not supporting mandatory nationwide use of 3-1-1 for public safety non-emergency access, has come out in support of a 3-digit number (as well as 7-digit and toll-free numbers) for optional state and local use "without a nationwide public safety designation, which could create an incorrect public perception of nationwide availability." Concluding that non-emergency access is essential to public safety, APCO has acknowledged that an "N-1-1 number is one of several options, including seven-digit and toll-free 800-numbers" to provide such access.
Where 3-1-1 is currently in use for other purposes (such as New York State's hearing-impaired emergency 3-1-1 code, or the 3-1-1 number of a private Louisiana ambulance company), the FCC will allow the continuation of that use until that area's local government is prepared to activate 3-1-1 as a non-emergency number. "Not one of the 60 counties in New York State has expressed an interest in providing or funding 3-1-1 as a non-emergency number," said Bill Darcy of Nynex, New York's telephone provider. "They feel it is unsafe to have two numbers, especially if a young person calls to report what they believe is a non-emergency call, but may in fact be an emergency. As a result, New York State will keep 3-1-1 as a special number for the deaf until some county calls and asks for it as a non-emergency number."
Other states are following Baltimore's lead and investigating the creation of a 3-1-1 non-emergency number. The San Jose Police Department has agreed to adopt a pilot 3-1-1 program for the State of California, and is currently working with Pacific Bell to implement the system by July. "We're hopeful that the implementation of 3-1-1 in San Jose will help us better manage the unavoidable increase in telephone calls with the advent of wireless 9-1-1 later this year," said Nancy Jackson, Communications Manager for San Jose Police. "Although we were initially concerned about the possibility of a 3-1-1 number confusing people, we feel confident than an aggressive public awareness campaign similar to that launched in Baltimore will alleviate those concerns."
New York Fire Dispatchers Facing Consolidation
When the City of New York built its new Metro Tech building in Brooklyn in 1995, the intent was to bring all the city's emergency services under one roof. So far, though, attempts to have Fire and EMS dispatch join the 9-1-1 center have been stalled, primarily due to delays in the city's new CAD software. Radio problems have also postponed integration of police dispatch, which remains located at police headquarters in Manhattan.
The Fire Department, City of New York, (FDNY) currently dispatches out of five communication facilities located in each of the city's boroughs - Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. While police and EMS are linked with the same 9-1-1 and computer systems, there is no such link with FDNY. Fire or rescue emergency calls received via 9-1-1 at Metro Tech are forwarded to the proper borough, which also receives calls directly on one of five published 7-digit emergency numbers and via Operator transfer. FDNY currently has no E9-1-1 capabilities - in fact, Enhanced 9-1-1 itself is new to New York City.
FDNY and EMS merged a year ago, although NYC EMS has its own dispatch center in Queens. "The plan was to consolidate them both and allow the fire dispatch system to take on the responsibility of dispatching the ambulances, but that has not happened yet," said David Rosenzweig, president of the Fire Alarm Dispatchers Benevolent Association. "The consolidation has been held up - as far as Fire moving into the new Metro Tech facility, and EMS coming with us - because Star Fire II, our new SHL CAD system, is not finished yet. Another problem, from a labor point of view, is that the five borough centers are functioning well, and the people that work in each of those offices are familiar with local geography. If they do consolidate, they will be putting all the calltakers together and that will reduce efficiency to a certain extent, because people won't be talking to a borough but to a citywide operation."
The dispatcher's union is fighting the consolidation in the hopes of leaving the fire dispatch system the way it is. "We have lots of problems as far as consolidation goes," Rosenzweig said. "Our biggest concern is that building was not built with the intention of being a major commercial center. It doesn't have the necessary safeguards that we feel are adequate for that kind of center. The vulnerability of police, fire, EMS all being in one building becomes much more of an issue. They've made themselves vulnerable not only to terrorism but to technical difficulties. There's a lack of forethought and a lack of understanding of security concerns. Also it's not the city's building, they're leasing the space. So here we are talking about investing millions of dollars to create a new comm center in a building we don't even own."
FDNY currently employs 160 civilian dispatchers (15 funded positions are vacant). The department is the nation's largest and busiest fire dispatch operation, handling more than 830,000 calls in 1995. Roughly 30% of the calls are handled by Brooklyn, nearly 25% by The Bronx, 20% each by Queens and Manhattan, and the remaining 5% by Staten Island.
"Our Union was a staunch defender to keep the fire alarm boxes - we took on the administration and won," Rosenzweig said. "Through political lobbying we not only convinced them not to disband the fire alarm system, but now they're upgrading them and putting in talk boxes. We now have 11,000 all-talk boxes. Hopefully we can also put off consolidation long enough to make people understand by doing it they are wasting money."
Lights, Camera, Action
When director Costa-Gavras' new film, MAD CITY, was filmed in downtown San Jose, CA, they wanted a police command post vehicle to use during a hostage scene. The film crew leased the San Jose Police tractor-trailer command truck, repainted its logo for the Madeleine City PD, and made it an instant movie star during a hostage scene. San Jose's rig is a 40-foot, 1985 Ford tractor/trailer apparatus with command post and back-up communications modules.
The film, starring John Travolta and Dustin Hoffman, opens in May. Whether SJPD's command unit makes it onto the silver screen or is left on the cutting room floor remains to be seen.
