National Capital Region

The National Capital Region (NCR) was created pursuant to the National Capital Planning Act of 1952 (Title 40, U.S.C., Sec. 71). The Act defined the NCR as the District of Columbia; Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties of Maryland; Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties of Virginia; and all cities now or here after existing in Maryland or Virginia within the geographic area bounded by the outer boundaries of the combined area of said counties.

The centers of all three branches of the U.S. federal government are in Washington, D.C., as well as the headquarters of most federal agencies. The NCR also serves as the headquarters for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organization of American States, among other international (and national) institutions.

The NCR is served by three major airports, two of them located in suburban Virginia and one located in Maryland.  The Capital Beltway creates an artificial boundary for the inner suburbs of Washington and is the root of the phrase "inside the Beltway." The NCR is also bisected by the Potomac River. Major interstates include: I-66, I-295, and I-395. The Washington area is also serviced by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) public transportation system, which operates public buses (Metrobus) and the region's subway system (Metrorail). Many of the jurisdictions around the region also run public buses that interconnect with the Metrobus/Metrorail system. Additionally, Union Station is a critical transportation hub that interconnects Metrorail, MARC and Virginia Rail Express (VRE) commuter trains, and Amtrak intercity rail.

For federal planning purposes, the NCR region is defined as the jurisdictions represented on the map at right. These include:

1. The City of Alexandria
2. Arlington County
3. The District of Columbia
4. Fairfax County
5. Loudoun County
6. Montgomery County
7. Prince George's County
8. Prince William County

All inclusive municipalities are considered part of the region.

The NCR’s regional public safety partners include the State of Maryland (SIEC), the Commonwealth of Virginia (SIEC), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Metro Washington Airports Authority, more than 30 Federal law enforcement agencies operating in the region, and many more.  With more than 35,000 radios in the region, and with many independent governments, and numerous individual public safety radio systems, in a small area; the NCR is one of the most complex interoperability environments in the country.

Currently, all local first responders in the NCR can communicate either by direct or patched communications.  It is anticipated that by 2012 patched communications will no longer be required for local NCR first responders as all will communicate by direct communications.  Communications with state and federal first responders will still require patching or issuance of “cache” 800 MHz radios.

Accomplishments in voice interoperability to date include:

• 800 MHz interoperability exists throughout the region
• District of Columbia tri-band radio network enables interoperability with WMATA and regional Federal agencies using both Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) systems
• Interoperability gateways are deployed throughout the region to connect disparate radio systems for use during regional events and missions
• NCR Radio Cache - 1,250 radio cache in the 800 MHz band was established to improve preparedness of the region
• Police Mutual Aid Radio System (PMARS) and Fire Mutual Aid Radio System (FMARS) – police and fire mutual aid radio systems exist to provide greater connectivity between the region’s dispatch centers.
• Upgrades and implementation of radio systems within subway tunnel system
• Regional Incident Communications and Coordination System (RICCSsm) established for incident based communications
• Washington Area Warning Alert System (WAWAS) established to convey warnings and situational awareness on a 24-hour basis
• Communication Asset & Survey Mapping Tool (CASM) – database and mapping tool containing all interoperable voice communication assets in the region.

The NCR is one of the most advanced data interoperability regions in the country.  Accomplishments to date in data interoperability include:

• 12 site wireless broadband network in the District of Columbia to provide interoperable multi-media (video, messaging, data exchange, imaging, etc.)  capabilities
• Capital Wireless Information Net (CapWIN) provides data interoperability and a national model for governance by establishing desktop and mobile text messaging and access to multiple law enforcement databases throughout the NCR
• Regional Incident Communication and Coordination System (RICCS) provides additional data communications via pager, cell phone and web for efficient information dissemination for emergency events

 

Collaboration with the Commonwealth’s Interoperability Effort

To encourage collaboration between the statewide effort and the NCR, the Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator serves as Virginia’s representative on the National Capital Region Regional Programmatic Working Group for Interoperability (RPWG-I). To promote two-way communication, representatives from Northern Virginia also sit on the State Interoperability Advisory Group and participate heavily in Initiative Action Teams. It is anticipated that in FY 2007 the Commonwealth will leverage expertise within the NCR to implement common language, establish a state radio cache, and continue to collect lessons learned from the 800 MHz rebanding process among other items.

For information regarding any of the NCR’s new or existing systems and initiatives please contact Robert LeGrande, 202-727-2189 or Robert.LeGrande@dc.gov.