CONTACT: Mr. Eric Durr, 518-786-4581 or (cell) 518-429-5186

FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Jan 08, 2009

WHO:

Members of the New York Army National Guard who operate the JISCC

WHAT:

LATHAM, NY (01/07/2009;)-- At the direction of Gov. David Paterson the New York National Guard will provide a high-tech communications system, and six personnel to support the Jan. 20 Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. Members of the media are invited to inspect the Joint Incident Site Communications Capability (JISCC) System and speak with members of the New York Army National Guard about the equipment and their mission in Washington. There is an opportunity for the media to discuss the mission and their equipment with personnel who will support the inauguration as they participate in a communications exercise designed to test the equipment prior to deploying.

WHEN:

11 a.m., Thursday, January 8.

WHERE:

Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham NY, 12110.

VISUALS: The JISCC shelter and trailer support system are set up on the floor of the DMNA drill hall. The system includes video screens that provide video conferencing capability; which will be operational.

BACKGROUND:

National Guard Support for the Inauguration: More than 4,000 members of the National Guard will be deployed in support of the Jan. 20 Inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States. The Guard personnel will assign with security, including crowd control, civil-disturbance missions, manning traffic-control points and assisting with the screening process. Other National Guard elements, including New York's will provide communication, medical evacuation and explosive ordnance disposal assets. National Guard ceremonial units and marching bands will also participate. Joint Incident Site Communications Capability (JISCC) Each state and territorial National Guard is equipped with a JISCC system which allows first responders emplkoying different communications systems to communicate with each other. It allows cell phone users to talk to responders on radios or IP phones and users of different radio systems to communicate with each other. The system can also serve as a command post with world-wide reach, allowing an incident commander to exchange voice, video and on-line communications and data with anybody, anywhere using a satellite up-link system. To obtain access to this secure military facility, media members shouldcontact the Division of Military and Naval Affairs Public Affairs Office at 518-786-4581.