https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Events
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookies Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • Microwave/RF
    • T&D World
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Events
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • WHY ATTEND
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Registration Opens April 2019-Join Our Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookies Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

Public Safety


Article

Speaker outlines steps that help agencies prepare interoperable communications for planned events

Speaker outlines steps that help agencies prepare interoperable communications for planned events

Before an event, the effort to make communications between public safety agencies interoperable takes careful planning.
  • Written by Donny Jackson
  • 23rd March 2016

LAS VEGAS—When multiple public-safety agencies prepare for planned events—from a parade to the Super Bowl—communications interoperability becomes crucial. To ensure that events run smoothly and public servants are able to respond to incidents efficiently, careful preparations must be taken far in advance.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, communications interoperability refers to the ability of emergency response agencies to talk across disciplines and jurisdictions via radio communications systems, exchanging voice and/or data with one another on demand, in real time, when needed and as authorized.”

Robert Sisley, COML (I) and COMT for the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and retired Sergeant of the Miami-Date Police Department, said that there are five types of incidents, ranging from the most simple, involving one or two single resources with up to six personnel, to the most complex, which require national resources and goes on for multiple operations periods. Each will require some level of interoperability to run smoothly, as well as the foresight to make this interoperability happen.

Before the event occurs, regardless of its type, several elements must be considered in order to clear the way for interoperable communications.

First, the agency must know its own inventory, and more importantly, the equipment’s capabilities.

“Capabilities are important,” Sisley said during a workshop at IWCE 2016. “Sometimes you’ll get an incident commander that doesn’t know what the range [of their radio equipment] is, they don’t know who else is on their system – who’s not on their system.”

As an extension of that idea, it is also important to be familiar with the radio systems and resources of other agencies in the area, as well as learning the functions and roles of specialized unites in order to anticipate their communications needs, according Sisley.

It’s also important to establish the organization structure of the communication committee early and to keep the committee down to a manageable size. Making personal contact with the heads of these operational committees to discuss their needs will help reduce the number of last-minute surprises.

Below is an example organizational structure for a large-scale event:

“They don’t know what they don’t know,” Sisley said. “They think that everything is great—that [they] can talk to everybody and everybody can talk to [them].”

But this might not be the case. It’s important not to wait until it’s too late to find this out.

“Don’t wait for them to come to you; go to them,” Sisley said. “Go to the heads of the different operational units and talk to them.”

However, even with the most meticulous planning, unforeseen circumstances are sure to arise. If leaders can anticipate what these-last minute request could be and build the ability for adjustment into the plan, the less scrambling there will be during the event.

Once an event has reached its conclusion, the work isn’t over. First, agencies must be sure to return all loaner equipment and collect the equipment it has loaned to other entities. Sisley said agencies should to ensure all equipment is returned in a serviceable condition as quickly as possible.

Second, all gateway patches must be deactivated and radio systems need to be returned to their pre-event status. Sisley recommended that agencies announce across the network as to when these deactivations and disconnections will take place.

Finally, Sisley said to conduct a post-event committee meeting—or “hot wash”—to discuss the event, prepare an after-action report, and get ready to conduct employee evaluations as they are needed.

“On the site, talk about what went wrong or what didn’t go well,” he said. “Take some notes.”

It’s particularly important to document the weaknesses in the system to justify making improvements in the future, Sisley saidHow. 

 

Tags: Interoperability Public Safety Article

Related


  • Before an event, the effort to make communications between public safety agencies interoperable takes careful planning.
  • Before an event, the effort to make communications between public safety agencies interoperable takes careful planning.
  • Before an event, the effort to make communications between public safety agencies interoperable takes careful planning.
  • Before an event, the effort to make communications between public safety agencies interoperable takes careful planning.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • FCC initiates proceeding, strike force to halt 911 fee diversion
  • The benefits and challenges of IT-OT convergence
  • Newscan: Tyler Technologies to buy NIC in $2.3 billion market-shaking deal
  • Enterprises prepare T-Band applications to alter systems after lengthy FCC freeze

Commentary


Ransomware? Let’s call it what it really is: extortionware

21st February 2021

Redefining communications for today’s mobile workforces

18th February 2021

Hi-tech sewer can help safeguard public health, environment and economies

18th February 2021
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

Using data to improve emergency response resources in healthcare arena dlvr.it/RtYfFJ

26th February 2021
UrgentComm

3 security flaws in devices and IoT that need fixing dlvr.it/RtYRxm

26th February 2021
UrgentComm

Newscan: America’s creaky payment infrastructure is showing cracks dlvr.it/RtTzBD

25th February 2021
UrgentComm

California PD: ‘Game-changing’ Live911 streaming of emergency calls accelerates responses dlvr.it/RtPgXS

24th February 2021
UrgentComm

Why Tuscon is building its own 4G network dlvr.it/RtPDG5

24th February 2021
UrgentComm

SolarWinds attackers lurked for ‘several months’ in FireEye’s network dlvr.it/RtP07s

24th February 2021
UrgentComm

Buffalo’s 48 hours to navigate a mission-critical transition to remote work dlvr.it/RtNwfl

24th February 2021
UrgentComm

Digital transformation, connectivity create platform for sustainable mobility dlvr.it/RtNwYm

24th February 2021

Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • Microwave/RF
  • T&D World
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X