NCJ Number
194352
Date Published
March 2002
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This document focuses on the importance of emergency communications systems in the event of a disaster.
Abstract
Interagency communications is one of the weakest links in emergency management. Interoperability is “the ability of public safety personnel to communicate by radio with staff from other agencies, on demand and in real time.” Although public safety agencies have used radio communications systems for many decades, most of these systems have been limited in reach and enabled communication within a group or agency, but not across agencies. Three steps are required for interoperability: inventing the appropriate technology, setting common standards and frequencies, and providing adequate funding. Enhanced Federal Communications Commission (FCC) leadership is needed in defining frequencies and standards and a clearly formulated and thoroughly executed comprehensive funding strategy. Federal, State, and local governments should reassess their priorities and decide to fund a substantial part of the cost of transition from current systems to interoperable ones. Policymakers could benefit from understanding the spectrum of solutions already tried and their successes and failures. The activities in the United States and Europe over the last decade are analyzed to solve the problem of interoperability of public safety organization communications systems. Over the last few years, Europeans have been ahead of the United States in implementing inoperability. In examining the European strategy, the ingredients for success are strong agency leadership, intentional risk taking, and public entrepreneurship. Agencies need to pick technology based on future requirements, not present needs. U.S. policymakers have to select a strategy based on the available means. Changed budget priorities as a result of the war against terrorism may make it feasible to establish more substantial Federal and State-sponsored interoperability funds than before. 108 notes