Mutual Aid and Interoperability CTC Presentation February 23, 2006 Chuck Miller Office of Enterprise Policy & Planning

©2005 Commonwealth of Kentucky2 Interoperability What is Mutual Aid and Interoperability –The ability of First Responders (Police, Fire, EMS, EOC, and others) to communicate with neighboring agencies for the purpose of providing assistance to each other. Interoperability Mandate – –First Responders must be able to communicate with each other to provide immediate and coordinated assistance in times of emergencies.

©2005 Commonwealth of Kentucky3 Current Interoperability Current Interoperability Capabilities –First responders use dedicated tactical channels for their daily operational requirements. These channels are often repeated within a localized area to extend and provide adequate coverage to the particular agency using the channel. –Many agencies attempt interoperability by swapping radios or by providing their tactical channel to neighboring agencies. These channels are then programmed into the radios of neighboring agencies, and are used as needed.

©2005 Commonwealth of Kentucky4 Current Interoperability Problems Problems with the Current Interoperability –Tactical channels that are used for Channel Sharing severely limit the owning agency during a mid to large scale situation/crisis. –The number of channels programmed into radios increases proportionally as additional agencies are added and quickly grows out of control. –Channel limitations of the equipment, monitoring limitations of the first responder, or signal loss when out of range of local radios or towers limits the effectiveness of channel sharing. –Radios manufactured by different companies are not always compatible. In some cases this requires the Officer to carry two or more radios. –Additional cost is incurred where radios are provided to neighboring agencies (radio swap). –One agency may not share channels with a neighboring agency for a number of reasons. This typically results in a communications relay from person to person to …

©2005 Commonwealth of Kentucky5 Where we want to be Desired – –Use nationally recognized analog channels for Mutual Aid. –Provide a means of patching two or more of these Mutual Aid channels together. –Provide Mutual Aid coverage across the Commonwealth. –Reduce or eliminate the need to use tactical channels. –Reduce or eliminate the requirements for radio swaps, or channel sharing. –Ensure that existing equipment can be used. –Ensure that no additional manpower is required by participating agencies. –Ensure that it is free to use for participating agency. –Ensure that it requires no or minimal additional training. –Ensure that an MOU establishing rules for use is agreed to by participants. –Elicit maximum participation of all first responder agencies.

©2005 Commonwealth of Kentucky6 Solution 150 MHz Mutual Aid system –Reallocate and retune existing sites in the KLEEN and IC networks (35 Sites) –Fill in the gaps by adding new sites (3 -10) –Replace all Radios ( ) 450 MHz Mutual Aid system –Replace selected radios (30-50%) 800 MHz Mutual Aid system –Add new sites to selected locations (18)

©2005 Commonwealth of Kentucky7 Solution (continued) Towers –Replace Antennae systems and feed line –Install Lightning protection –Install/upgrade grounding Circuits (KEWS) –Add circuits from the tower site to the nearest KSP Dispatch center Dispatch Centers –Consolidate all Mutual Aid circuits within a region to the serving KSP Dispatch Center –Program the KSP Console to allow Dispatchers to patch (cross-connect) the Mutual Aid circuits within their region.

©2005 Commonwealth of Kentucky8 150 MHz Band 450 MHz Band 800 MHz Band Results Three Mutual Aid Networks are created and available for use independently or…

©2005 Commonwealth of Kentucky9 Results (continued) … they can be tied together as one large network.

©2005 Commonwealth of Kentucky10 Mutual Aid Regions The Mutual Aid Regions are aligned with the KSP Posts to take advantage of the Statewide dispatch capability already present.

©2005 Commonwealth of Kentucky11 Milestones / Deliverables Milestone Completion Date (Target) Repair the existing InfrastructureCOMPLETE Augment the 800MHz NetworkCOMPLETE Add new 800MHz Radios at selected sites (18)COMPLETE Augment the 150MHz VHF Network as neededMarch 2006 Replace all of the 150MHz VHF Mutual Aid Radios (45)May 2006 Replace selected 450MHz UHF Mutual Aid Radios (31-45)TBD Create a web page for InteroperabilityApril 2006 Replace the remaining UHF Mutual Aid Radios (50)TBD

©2005 Commonwealth of Kentucky12 Participation 1.Download this MOU from Fill it out completely and have it signed by the senior person in the Agency. 3.Return it to the address provided. 4.Check the website after ten working days to ensure that your agency has been added to the approved agency list. 5.Once you see your name on the list, program the radios with the Mutual Aid frequencies you desire.

©2005 Commonwealth of Kentucky13 Where can I find more information?

©2005 Commonwealth of Kentucky14 QuestionsQuestions?