Audit Criticizes Feds' $5B Wireless System

[HardOCP News]

The Justice Department's inspector general criticized the plan to develop a $5 billion secure wireless communication system for federal law enforcement. Weak security, diminished voice quality and vulnerability to hackers were just a few of the problems listed by the inspector general.

Almost six years in development at a cost of nearly $200 million, the Integrated Wireless Network (IWN), designed to replace antiquated systems at the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and other key agencies, is "not on the path … that was envisioned," the audit concluded.

 

[osalcido]

It's a shame the large national projects are often lost to corruption and inefficiency before even getting off the ground. I know it's a government project, but commercial companies seem to suffer from this too. Are project managers simply not putting enough time and effort into planning/testing before rolling stuff out, anymore?

 

[mavalpha]

I'm not surprised. The wheels never turn as smoothly with such large machinery behind them.

 

[Spazilton]

Whoh,

That report might just be bodering on slander. The company I work for builds the systems for that project. I can tell you from personal experience that the system they are talking about has some of the best over the air encryption available.

The system was planned to allow agents to communicate across agency lines. For example, it would allow an FBI agent to tap into information obtained from another department or agency, such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or CIA. It could also be used to coordinate federal agents as they respond to a disaster.

 

[Spazilton]

Mispost

Continuning on.

The system was planned to allow agents to communicate across agency lines. For example, it would allow an FBI agent to tap into information obtained from another department or agency, such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or CIA. It could also be used to coordinate federal agents as they respond to a disaster.

This system is already in place and has been proven secure. Interoperability is where its at with the Wireless communicatons industry today.

State of New York, just bought a state wide system that does exactly the same thing the Federal wants, and spent over $2 Billion.

 

[MorfiusX]

The company I work for primary focus is Department of Defense contracting in the technology sector.

First, it's not uncommon for large governmental organizations to spend lots of money on something that never yields a result or usable product. Though with the strained budget and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, one of the big pushes lately is to do less with less. They are trying to reduce waste.

Second, most DoD agencies have extremely strict policies on communications. These get even more strict for wireless communications. How all this translates to the FBI is any ones guess, but some of the same people are running the show.

 

[FLECOM]

are these the 700mhz interop networks or what? i am not sure what they are talking about... there are so many stupid projects getting money its completely retarded.. the clusterfsk that is the 800mhz rebanding with nextel and public safety.... the whole 700mhz government/public safety band which nextel is already trying to get into so they can fsk it up just like they did with 800...

and man, that word, interop, thats like the high score for buzz-word-bingo... you want a several billion dollar government contract just sprinkle the word "interoprable!" in there a few times and they will just throw money at you for no reason