Interoperability Through Shared Channels

1. COPS 2007 Technology Program Kickoff Conference Interoperability Through Shared Channels A session about the level of effort, resources, and key actions needed to implement a shared channel solution for interoperability

2. Interoperability • Radio comms that work • In the Street, with responders • From different agencies and or disciplines • Right now!

3. Where I come from… • Po-Dunk, frontier • Active per-capita • Cop does 10+ calls per shift • Engines run 1,500+ calls/yr

4. We’ll match our… • 3 leading causes of emergencies with anyone…sometimes, crazy • Cops get 10 calls per shift • Engines run 1,500 calls/yr • Connect a lot

5. Po Dunk • 147,000 sq miles (DC to Chi) • About 900,000 people • Public Safety folks who get along…because we want to/have to

6. Po Dunk • Hot cop calls (play David Lane) • Hot fire calls (play True Value) • Play Nice • A lot of responders on scene

7. Po Dunk Resources • Appreciation of the work, and of incident management (cluster is half a word) • Comms folks who are operators in the street, no dry boots • Smart use of limited spectrum

8. Interoperability as a State • Started in late 1980s • Connect responders on scene • Share channels • Common procedures, naming • Wrote it down, handed out

9. State wide Interop • Simple • Easy • Work, make sense • Low/no costs (nice bonus) • Bottom up, not top down

10. Interop State wide • 1 all agency common (hailing) Gold • 3 LE specific - Silver, Blue, Black • 5 Fire specific - Red, Coral, Maroon, Scarlet, Ruby • Fire can/do share with cops

11. State wide Interop • 20 years on the road, showing • Early adapters are now bosses • Bosses are leaders of response • Operational successes, more and more

12. Shared Channel Interop Still… • Simple, Easy, Works, Makes sense, Low/no costs • Not very sexy…which can have social consequences

13. Shared Channel Interop • Focus of responders is strong …interop comms have to work And they do. • Now maintaining what works • Still lots of work, as much or more

14. Shared Channel Interop • Local, at the County level • Still connected to the statewide shared channel plan • Strengthen local response • Strengthen local command

15. Local Shared Channel Interop • 100 fire fighters is 100 fire fighters • 20 cops is 20 cops • Strong incident management • Support by shared channel comms

16. Gallatin County, Montana • 1 shared, hailing, check in • 4 shared tactical • 4 shared op repeaters • Solid coverage were people are

17. Gallatin County, Montana Still… • Simple, Easy, Works, Makes sense, Low/no costs • Not very sexy…which can have social consequences

18. Local Shared Channel Interop Key actions: • Value responder safety • Value customer care • Value other responders • Value other responders’ work

19. Local Shared Channel Interop • Trust/Risk/Improve • Everything comes around • Nice/tough • Repel boarders – Afraid of change?

20. Local Shared Channel Interop • Afraid of change? Why, yes, as a matter of fact, we are afraid of change…

21. Local Shared Channel Interop We are afraid of changing… • … Simple, Easy, Works, Makes sense, Low/no costs • Not very sexy…which can have social consequences

22. Effort – Then and now • Stay anchored in the street, in the operational reality • Focused on performance, not “gee wiz” • Responder know more about operational comms needs than anyone …anyone…period

23. Effort • Comms is a tool of the response • Specifically, comms helps command and responder safety • Which helps the customer, who, in MT, gets to decide the value of the service we provide

24. Shared Channel Interop Still… • Simple, Easy, Works, Makes sense, Low/no costs • Not very sexy…which can have social consequences

25. Come visit… • We are very nice… • And a little crazy… • And we have solid shared channel interop comms. • What more could a person ask for?

26. Thank you Brian Crandell Box 1103 Bozeman, Montana 59771 aps@bigsky.net