Government Agencies Told to Interoperate Are Like Children in a Sandbox
An interesting article on networkworld found via slashdot about government agencies refusing to cooperate and interoperate.
Like a bunch of children in a sandbox unable and perhaps unwilling to share their toys, multiple key government agencies cannot or will not cooperate to build a collaborative wireless network.
The Government Accountability Office report issued today took aim at the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and the Treasury which had intended what’s known as The Integrated Wireless Network (IWN) to be a joint radio communications system to improve communication among law enforcement agencies.
However IWN, which as already cost millions of dollars, is no longer being pursued as a joint development project, the GAO said. By abandoning collaboration on a joint implementation, the departments risk duplication of effort and inefficient use of resources as they continue to invest significant resources in independent solutions. Further, these efforts will not ensure the interoperability needed to serve day-to-day law enforcement operations or a coordinated response to terrorist or other events, the GAO said.
Sounds like a real problem… someone go work for these guys! Apparently the DOJ has already spent $195 Million dollars on it… as Bob says, this is hard stuff!