The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has released the Multi-Band Radio (MBR) Pilot Report and the MBR Procurement Guide. These documents mark the successful culmination of S&T’s MBR project, which is designed to provide technology to first responders that allows them to communicate with multiple agencies and jurisdictions while operating on different radio bands. 

Traditional hand-held radios operate on only one frequency band, limiting first responders’ ability to communicate across agencies and jurisdictions. S&T’s MBR initiative helped address long-standing challenges in the development and successful transition of the MBR technology. MBRs can operate on multiple, noncontiguous radio bands between 136 and 870 Megahertz (MHz). When authorized, they can also operate in the Department of Defense bands and two federal bands.

Since 2011, DHS S&T has used prototypes and working radios from two different companies to conduct pilot tests with more than a dozen emergency management and first responder organizations across the country. The lessons learned and key findings from these pilots, based upon input from the user community, can be found in the MBR Pilot Report.

In addition, the MBR Procurement Guide is designed to assist agencies in making informed procurement decisions. This guide provides background information on operational requirements for financial managers, a better understanding of the regulatory issues, and detail on technical capabilities of the MBR models and accessories available from the original manufacturers as well as secondary markets.