Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Advancing U.S. Public Safety Innovation: NIST PSCR Facilitates BroadImPort Project with Domestic and International Expertise
The Public Safety Research Communications (PSCR) Division is leading the charge in enhancing U.S. public safety communications. Through the BroadImPort project, funded under the 2022 Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program (PSIAP), the PSCR Mission Critical Services (MCX) Portfolio is tapping into both domestic expertise and select global insights to develop scalable, standards-based tools for first responders.
The BroadImPort project leverages lessons learned from the European BroadPort initiative to inform U.S.-led adaptations tailored specifically to American public safety systems. By applying the internationally recognized 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards, the project fosters interoperability between agencies and across jurisdictions—critical for effective emergency communication.
The initiative, developed through the MCX Portfolio, is advancing a platform that supports mission-critical voice, video, and data services, designed to interconnect existing Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems with next-generation broadband-based MCX. The initiative is not only technical in nature but also explores innovative operational features such as inter-agency “campaign” planning and promotes open demonstrations and collaborative testing with public safety stakeholders.
The BroadImPort project incorporates fieldwork in partnership with public safety agencies across the U.S. and benefits from technical deployment support by Frequentis USA Inc, allowing the PSCR MCX team and Nemergent Solutions to gather real-world insights to shape solutions. These efforts are guided by a shared goal: to accelerate the domestic adoption of flexible, scalable, and standards-based technologies that enhance emergency response capabilities.
BroadImPort is a testament to PSCR leadership in driving forward domestic innovation, while selectively integrating proven international approaches. With roots in American fieldwork and implementation, the project is laying the foundation for a nationwide transformation in emergency response communications.