SECR 5060, Assignment # 5, 24 Nov 2014, Webster University
A major communication issue on September 11th 2001 at the World Trade Center was the ineffective repeater system. A radio repeater system helps radio receivers such as a hand held radio and radio transmitters that would be located in a commutation center, they will receive a weak signal from a hand held radio and then retransmit it to a higher level, which allows the signal move a longer distance. One of the fire chiefs recommended after the south tower was hit that they test the repeater system to see if it would work. “ Earlier, an FDNY chief had asked building personnel to activate the repeater channel, which would enable greatly-enhanced FDNY portable radio communications in the high-rises. One button on the repeater system activation console in the North Tower was pressed at 8:54, though it is unclear by whom. As a result of this activation, communication became possible between FDNY portable radios on the repeater channel. In addition, the repeater’s master handset at the fire safety desk could hear communications made by FDNY portable radios on the repeater channel. The activation of transmission on the master handset required, however, that a second button be pressed. That second button was never activated on the morning of September 11 (THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT, page 297, Para 4).” The radios were not able to reach the repeater system and therefore the signals could not travel far. Without radio transmissions being able to reach those in charge, the firefighters were unaware of the situation and conditions they were entering in the North Tower on 9/11.
Since September 11th, 2001, the Fire Department in New York City has greatly improved their overall radio communication systems. They “purchased Raytheon ACU-1000 interoperability gateways, which patch together radios operating on incompatible systems. This allows for ad-hoc interconnection to other agencies, no matter what system or band they operate on (James Careless and Glenn Bischoff, April 2011).”
There was a lack of coordination and communication between the first responders on 9/11. There was not a unified command on 9/11 “would have been further frustrated by the lack of communication and coordination among responding agencies (THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT, page 321, Para 1).” As stated in the 9/11 Commission Report, the command posts were not in desired locations which would have helped serve as central point for the different agencies involved. As a result information was not shared between the different agencies and “the lack of coordination between the FDNY and NYPD on September 11 had a catastrophic effect has been the subject of controversy (THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT, page 321, Para 5).” The lack of communication and coordination results in not having a plan to evacuate the civilians in a timely and effective manner. The coordination and communication between various agencies has improved in New York City since 9/11/. “In May 2004, New York City adopted an emergency response plan that expressly contemplates two or more agencies jointly being lead agency when responding to a terrorist attack but does not mandate a comprehensive and unified incident command that can deploy and monitor all first responder resources from one overall command post (THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT, page 322, Para 1).” New York City used some aspects from the military and established a unified field intelligence unit, which helped them collect and merge information from the first responders. Since 9/11, there have been numerous exercises in large cities and in the military where they practice their communication and coordination efforts. The only way we will get better at this communication piece is to continually practice this effort between the various agencies.

Reference Used:
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States., Kean, T. H., & Hamilton, L. (2004). The 9/11 Commission report: Final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. Washington, D.C.: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States.

James Careless and Glenn Bischoff. "What a Difference a Decade Makes." How NYC Improved Its Public-safety Communications after 9/11. Urgent Communications, Apr. 2011. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.