Regional Interoperable Communications Plans & After Incident Report

1. Regional Interoperable Communications Plans & After Incident Report

2. Regional Interoperable Communications Plans (RICPs) • Not tactical plans but ‘high level’ operational plans • Template being developed by ICTAP and the TxRC • Consists of: • Regional Governance (RGOV) • Providing oversight and distributing funding • Regional Standard Operating Procedures (RSOP) • Using a common SOP statewide • Regional Interoperable Migration Plans (RIMP) • Building shared-standards-based systems statewide • Must be submitted by 12/15/09

3. RICP Workshops • March 30-31 at the Harris County Sheriff's Department Academy at 2316 Atascocita Road, Humble, TX - Register at: https://www.preparingtexas.org/ICTAP_Houston • April 28-29 at the La Quinta Inn and Suites, 825 N. Watson Rd, Arlington, TX – Register at: https://www.preparingtexas.org/ICTAP_Dallas

4. Texas Statewide Communications Interoperable Channel Plan (TSICP) • The TSICP was initially adopted April 2005, and revised January 2008. All jurisdictions, cities and counties, are required to execute the MOU with the Texas Department of Public Safety to be eligible for federal communications funding. Every jurisdiction must sign the TSICP MOU prior to being authorized to use the frequencies (good for mobiles/portables only not fixed base or repeater stations) • Companion document to RICP • Lists all Texas mutual aid channels and guidelines for operations

5. Texas StatewideSystem-of-Systems Using a system of systems approach, each individual system becomes a component in a regional and nationwide group of other systems. Each system can be connected to others as long as jurisdictions and agencies collaborate when establishing governance structures, creating standard operating procedures, designing training drills, and identifying compatible technology and equipment in use today or for the future.

6. Statewide System-of-Regional Systems Provides: • Increased Operational Benefits • Increased Capability • Increased Efficiency • Increased Flexibility to Upgrade • Decreased Reliance on proprietary technology • Decreased Cost • Increased Capacity to Expand

7. After Incident Report • Requirement to meet NECP Goals • By 2010 90% of UASIs, by 2011, 75 percent of all jurisdictions are able to demonstrate response-level emergency communications within one hour for routine events involving multiple jurisdictions and agencies. • Workshop May 19th, Austin, save the date, register at www.preparingtexas.org

8. Where We Are The first NECP goal for emergency communications is: “By 2010, 90% of all high-risk urban areas (Austin, Dallas/Arlington/Forth Worth, El Paso, Houston & San Antonio) are able to demonstrate response-level emergency communications within one hour for routine events involving multiple jurisdictions and agencies.”

9. National Emergency Communications Plan, Office of Emergency Communications (NECP & OEC) Vision For emergency responders to be able to communicate: As needed, on demand, and as authorized; At all levels of government; and Across all disciplines.

10. Contact information: Todd M. Early, Communications Coordinator, Texas Highway Patrol Division, TxDPS • 512-424-2121 – office • Todd.early@txdps.state.tx.us

11. FUNDING

12. Operation Texas Talks Operation Texas Talks Strategy: Create partnerships among public safety agencies throughout Texas to build and maintain a cost-effective interoperable communications network using shared resources. A statewide assessment and analysis of current needs resulted in a projected cost of $813-million.Operation Texas Talks proposes the use of a combination of federal, state, and local funding to provide interoperable communications to state and local public safety agencies. • Public Safety Agencies will need an estimated $60-million per year in recurring funding for interoperable communications operations and maintenance. • House Bill #2507 (current Texas Legislature)

13. Eligibility for Funding All entities must be compliant with the SCIP and meet planning requirements to be considered for funding. • We must plan • We must equip our emergency responders • We must train • We must exercise

14. Where's The Money? Where’s The Money • State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) • Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP) • Emergency Operations Center (EOC) grant program • Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) • Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grants • DOJ/Bureau of Justice Assistance Grants • DOT/Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant Program • COPS Technology Grants

15. Contact information: Joe Peters, TxRC Technology Advisor & Funding Chair& Director - NLECTC-Border Research & Technology Center, Sheriffs’ Association of Texas • 512-445-2316 – office • Joe@txsheriffs.org

16. Questions & Thank you