Suggested Planning Elements County Interoperability Plan

1. Introduction

2. Lead Contact Information

a. Designation of Lead Agency for Plan
b. Contact Information for Designated Primary Contact

3. Managers of Radio Systems Within County

a. List entities and users to be covered by the plan
b. Identify managers of public safety radio systems in county and contact person(s)

4. Service Area

a. Describe coverage area and the population served within area
b. Generally describe the type of topography/terrain of service area
  i. Roads
  ii. Waterways
  iii. Mountains/hills
  iv. Other
c. Identify the type of structures that present special challenges within the service area (e.g. tunnels, high rise buildings, industrial complexes)
d. Provide signal coverage maps as available
e. Identify dispatch center(s) that dispatch for the public safety agencies within geographic area

5. Frequencies Used and Licensed in County

a. List frequencies used in the county and the agencies that hold the FCC license
b. List persons responsible for maintaining licensing of frequencies (FCC compliance)

6. Intergovernmental Agreements

Briefly describe the formal and/or informal communications arrangements that presently exist within the planning area. Examples: memoranda of understanding, chapter 190 intergovernmental agreements, mutual aid agreements, historical perspective or practice, contract, etc.

7. Status of Interoperability in County

a. Describe radio communications systems presently in operation within the service area

i. Frequencies used and band of operation
ii. Coverage and reliability (effectiveness)
iii. Redundancy of systems
iv. Existing user groups and the purpose of each group
v. Language and code usage for each user (e.g. 12 code, 10 code or clear text)

b. Interoperability within the county

i. Describe known interoperability gaps and challenges
ii. Identify actions in progress to address short- and long-term problems and provide associated timeline for completion
iii. Identify gaps and challenges that cannot be addressed at this time
iv. Identify or describe plans to conduct, or results of, any emergency management training exercises that test communications within the county
v. Identify existing communications plans, if any, of system users including on-going plans to develop the communications infrastructure

c. Interoperability outside the county

i. Identify how the county and planning partners will improve interoperability with neighboring counties within the state and, if applicable, with neighboring counties in border states
ii. Identify what the county and planning partners are doing to improve interoperability with state public safety entities

d. Short-term interoperability

i. Describe what the county and planning partners have done or have planned to implement the Federal Communications Commission’s newly established nationwide interoperability channels (* See SIEC Guide for Short Term Interoperability resourced below)
ii. Describe plans, if any, and processes to transition to narrow band digital operations, consistent with FCC Project 25 Standards

Resources

• http://egov.oregon.gov/SIEC/

• http://egov.oregon.gov/SIEC/docs/ShortTerm_Rec_09_07_2004.pdf
(Short Term Plan for Interoperability)

• http://egov.oregon.gov/SIEC/docs/ShortTerm_Rec_09_07_2004.pdf
(CJSD Grant Application. SIEC Guide for Short Term Interoperability in Appendix C at page 37.)

• http://www.doj.usdoj/odp/docs/bulletins.htm