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Overcoming Siloed Communication: Portland Rose Festival Case Study

Jeff Perkins  (Public Safety Communications Specialist, Oregon Department of Emergency Management)

Scott Reilly  (President/CEO, Communications Northwest)

Paul Braunstein  (Principal FirstNet Consultant, public sector team lead Oregon and Washington, AT&T)

Track: First Responders

Topics: Interoperability, LMR, PTT

Format: Panel Session

Vault Recording: TBD

As large-scale public events grow in complexity, the need for seamless communication between multiple agencies becomes critical. This session will provide an in-depth look at how the Portland Rose Festival overcame communication silos by integrating traditional LMR systems, FirstNet's Mission Critical Push-to-Talk (PTT) technology, and the CommNet DMR radio system.

Our expert panel from the State of Oregon Office of Statewide Interoperability, FirstNet, and Communications Northwest will share real-world challenges and solutions in ensuring interoperability across public safety, private security, and volunteer teams. Learn how these technologies improved situational awareness, enabled real-time incident reporting, and enhanced coordination between first responders.

With practical takeaways on bridging different communication systems, deploying scalable solutions, and addressing budget constraints, this session is vital for communication professionals looking to future-proof their operations. Attendees will leave with actionable insights on integrating broadband and LMR, ensuring mission-critical communication reliability, and enhancing public safety during high-stakes events.

Takeaway

Multi-agency coordination: Best practices for managing communication between diverse public safety, security, and volunteer teams.

Cross-Technology Integration: Learn how Portland effectively integrated traditional LMR systems with modern broadband solutions like LTE and FirstNet, enabling seamless communication across agencies and technologies.

Cost-Effective Interoperability: Explore how to implement reliable and interoperable communication strategies without breaking the budget, leveraging existing infrastructure and affordable PTT solutions.

Building Scalable Solutions: Gain insights into deploying scalable communication systems that can accommodate events of varying sizes and complexity, ensuring robust operations across multiple agencies and jurisdictions.