State of Indiana Communications Interoperability Plan
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- 1.2SCIP Participating Agencies
1.1Historical PerspectiveThe U.S. Department of Homeland Security rightly emphasizes stakeholder involvement in the interoperable communications planning process. In Indiana, this early and consistent local involvement led to a genuine statewide interoperable communications plan. “A Compelling Case for Interoperability:” Indiana’s Statewide Public Safety Voice/Data Communications System Strategic Plan. Instead of building a system from the top down, hundreds of local police, sheriffs, firefighters, elected officials and other interested users met in a series of statewide Governor sponsored summits in the late 1990’s. A clear message came from these summits: Interoperability is not about technology. It’s about money and cooperation. A cutting-edge system is useless if communities can’t afford the equipment to use it or if they simply don’t want to participate. As a result of the locally-driven planning process, Project Hoosier SAFE-T (Safety Acting for Everyone –Together) has evolved into a realistic, wide-berth network which allows almost all local systems, from older VHF/UHF/800 technology to the newest digital systems, to interoperate. SAFE-T is a Motorola 4.1 Astro Smartzone Omni-Link 800 MHz trunked voice system and Motorola Private Data TAC mobile data system. It supports both analog and digital radios, providing 95% mobile radio coverage statewide, with 95% reliability for portable on the street use within the coverage area. The state is fully funding both operation and maintenance of the statewide backbone which includes: some state owned towers, antenna systems, shelters, backup power generators, transmitters and receivers. User agencies purchase their mobile and portable radios and dispatch consoles along with mobile radio modems and laptops for access to the mobile data system. Agencies retain significant autonomy with regard to use the system, structure/sharing of talkgroups and interoperable communications planning at the local and regional levels. It is important to note that SAFE-T is not just an interoperable communications system; but, that it is the primary communications system for hundreds of Indiana public safety agencies, and these numbers are growing now that the construction and implementation phase is complete. It is also important to note that Project Hoosier SAFE-T is the statewide strategy for interoperable communications. The strategic plan of 1998 was developed by local stakeholders; the commission that oversees system implementation and policy is composed of membership from the original stakeholder community. This does not mean first responders who continue to use legacy systems are left out of the interoperable picture. Indeed, many of these legacy system users do have Project Hoosier SAFE-T 800 MHz radios operational on the system, and interoperate with surrounding communities by sharing radios, patching to talkgroups and using mutual aid/interoperable talkgroup plans. The creation of this statewide interoperable communications plan is intended to not only establish direction for achieving further interoperability, but revalidate and reinforce the original public safety interoperable communications vision established in 1998. From 1999 to Today The 2002 Indiana General Assembly, spurred in part by the 9-11 tragedy, authorized funding for Project Hoosier SAFE-T. No new funding source was created – rather a redirected portion of technology funds already available from certain Bureau of Motor Vehicle transactions. During the first few years of system buildout, some of the above designated funds were directed by the General Assembly toward helping eliminate a backlog in the state’s DNA labs, which limited system construction. Governor Mitch Daniels, working closely with the General Assembly restored this funding in 2005, allowing system buildout to proceed at an accelerated rate. The original system buildout was completed in 2007. Several local and county government entities have, or are planning to add SAFE-T radio sites to the system to enhance local and in-building coverage. These sites are constructed with funding from community appropriations or local grants. After construction Project Hoosier SAFE-T funds all infrastructure maintenance and operational costs for the additional sites. The SAFE-t staff will continue to add communications sites to the SAFE-t system as coverage requirements change overtime. The funding source to pay for system operation and maintenance (approximately $13 million a year) exists through 2019. Future upgrades and technology migration funding will be appropriately requested beyond the current funding authorization period. Agencies who participate in Project Hoosier SAFE-T pay for their own subscriber equipment (radios) through local/regional budget allocation or grant funds. 1.2SCIP Participating AgenciesIn 2006, the Integrated Public Safety Commission, in concert with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, applied for and was awarded a grant from the National Governor’s Association to participate in their Public Safety Wireless Communications Policy Academy. This grant was designed to help facilitate executive level stakeholders, who have interest in achieving higher level interoperable communications for public safety, toward formulation of the State of Indiana Communications Interoperability Plan. To ensure participation at the highest level, Governor Mitch Daniels appointed representatives from the following public safety community:
The membership has met and participated in the NGA Policy Academy throughout the year to not only provide local involvement in the plan, but to assist with drafting and approval of the plan. It is important to note that membership on the committee represents not only 800MHz Project Hoosier SAFE-T users, but VHF and UHF and legacy 800MHz community. Current members are: SCIP Participating Members
This group will continue to function well after the NGA grant requirements have been satisfied to help ensure the plan’s full implementation. As part of their implementation activities, the SCIP Executive Committee will periodically report their progress to the Integrated Public Safety Commission. Contributing Members Sally Fay, Communications Director Integrated Public Safety Commission
Indiana Department of Homeland Security Diane Mack, Strategic Planning Branch Indiana Department of Homeland Security Joshua Ross, Research Manager Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Don West, Communications Indiana Department of Homeland Security Directory: ipsc -> files files -> Washington County/Regional Communications Plan –Standard Operating Procedures Download 0.75 Mb. Share with your friends:
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