Vendors should put first responders before profits, encourage ISSI deployments

However, one of the primary obstacles to interconnecting LMR systems is the lack of a fully-capable interface on each system. While the P25 ISSI standard has been around for years, how many actual deployments has it seen, especially between disparate agencies?

The biggest barrier to ubiquitous ISSI deployment seems to be the cost; purchasing the ISSI capability from some vendors is prohibitively expensive. This is understandable, from the vendors' perspective—if you are not able to connect your LMR system to others, then you will be forced to expand your current system instead. Let's face it, some vendors want nothing more than to perpetuate our national interoperability crisis as long as possible; it's good business, after all.

Perhaps what this country needs most is not a single frequency to rule them all, but vendors who consistently put first-responder safety before profits. To this end, it is end users that have the right to—and should—demand more from their vendors.

Here's a proposal: Let's challenge radio-system vendors to build the best, most competitive radio system they can, but with every system sold include a fully capable intersystem interface. Then, agencies could enable intersystem interoperability at will, and radio systems will be chosen on their merits, instead of being forced by anti-competitive vendor lock-in.

One can always dream…

Joe Boucher is the chief technology officer (CTO) for Mutualink.