Contract Awarded for New York City First-Responder Network Security

The contract to build the Geospatially Aware Urban Approaches for Responding to Disasters (GUARD) program, awarded earlier this year to Rosettex Technology & Ventures Group (Rosettex), by the National Technology Alliance, is designed to build wireless networks for urban first responders. GUARD -- built on the "Smart Dissemination Networks" (Smart Nets) program developed in conjunction with users from the New York City Fire and Police Departments -- implements a congressional vision for a first-responder communications and decision-support capability. GUARD extends the capabilities, team and technologies already in place to establish a pre-operational prototype in New York City.

This network will allow fire department, police and other first responders to communicate securely in natural disasters, fires, and terrorist attacks. The network will use 802.16e (WiMAX-Ready) technology to provide high-bandwidth mobile communications.

Cranite Systems Inc. announced today that it was selected to design the security architecture for the program. "We looked to Cranite to be our wireless security experts." said David Ihrie, chief technology officer for Rosettex, "Using their experience and technological capabilities enables us to assure our government partners that we're building on a rock-solid wireless communications security architecture."

The GUARD plan calls for extending the enhanced Smart Nets capability with a second interconnected regional solution in St. Louis, and a third in Washington, D.C. GUARD will provide an open platform and model that communities around the country can evaluate and adapt, to best serve local requirements.