NCJ Number
211135
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 53 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2005 Pages: 42-43,45-46,49,52
Date Published
August 2005
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article advises police chiefs on the major problems in achieving communications interoperability and how they can be effectively addressed.
Abstract
The Federal Department of Homeland Security has defined "interoperability" as "the ability of first responders to talk to other first responders when they need to and when authorized to." Communication barriers between agencies that responded to the tragic events of September 11th exposed the lack and importance of communications interoperability; however, it continues to remain an elusive goal for most U.S. public safety agencies. This is due largely to three problems: frequency/channel bandwidth, terminology, and communications technology. In the area of frequency/channel bandwidth, the two issues are the variable frequency bands being used by different agencies and the width of the radio channel being used. Regarding terminology, police, fire, and emergency medical agencies use different codes for their responding activities reflective of their different missions. Varying communications technologies being used by public safety agencies also impede compatibility that would facilitate interoperability. Addressing these impediments to interoperability requires that the heads of all agencies involved in emergency responding agree on procedures to share channels and resources, terminology, response scenarios, and mutual aid agreements. Once these plans and agreements have been developed, they should be disseminated to every level of the agencies, followed by regular practice in executing the plans. SAFECOM, which is the Federal project concerned with the development of communications interoperability among first responders, has published an "Interoperability Continuum" that is available online. As a guide, SAFECOM has identified five levels of technology solutions of interoperability: swapping radios, gateways, shared channels, proprietary-based shared systems, and standards-based shared systems. All of these solutions have benefits and limitations. This article discusses the pros and cons of each of these technologies for interoperability.