1 Guiding Principles for Nationwide Interoperability A Brief Overview of Recent Efforts and Progress

2 Connection ≠ Interoperability  Technology doesn’t always connect people in ways that reduce confusion and misunderstanding…

3 A Nationwide Plan:  An action plan for nationwide progress on public safety communications interoperability. › 12 Guiding Principles for Interoperability › Four Major Initiatives  22 Action Steps  An action plan for nationwide progress on public safety communications interoperability. › 12 Guiding Principles for Interoperability › Four Major Initiatives  22 Action Steps

4 12 Guiding Principles: 1. Interoperability begins—and has its greatest value— with daily use by local users. › Yet it works within a unified, usable regional, tribal, state, and Federal interoperability framework. 2. Interoperability is both a technical connection and an effective shared understanding. 3. Sustaining interoperable communications requires government officials’ support at all levels, as well as stable and predictable management, funding, operations and maintenance. 1. Interoperability begins—and has its greatest value— with daily use by local users. › Yet it works within a unified, usable regional, tribal, state, and Federal interoperability framework. 2. Interoperability is both a technical connection and an effective shared understanding. 3. Sustaining interoperable communications requires government officials’ support at all levels, as well as stable and predictable management, funding, operations and maintenance.

5 12 Guiding Principles: 4. Federal interoperability with local, regional, state, and tribal agencies is the Federal Government’s responsibility. › The Federal Government must coordinate and collaborate at all levels to ensure Federal agencies can interoperate with local, regional, state, and tribal agencies. › State interoperability with local, regional, and tribal agencies is a state government’s responsibility. 4. Federal interoperability with local, regional, state, and tribal agencies is the Federal Government’s responsibility. › The Federal Government must coordinate and collaborate at all levels to ensure Federal agencies can interoperate with local, regional, state, and tribal agencies. › State interoperability with local, regional, and tribal agencies is a state government’s responsibility.

6 12 Guiding Principles: 5. Critical voice interoperability is the primary goal; data is secondary, but very important. 6. Daily use of nationally recognized names, terminology, and command structures creates trust and understanding between responders and improves joint performance. 7. Public safety professionals operate flexibly and effectively within any portion of the Interoperability Continuum. 5. Critical voice interoperability is the primary goal; data is secondary, but very important. 6. Daily use of nationally recognized names, terminology, and command structures creates trust and understanding between responders and improves joint performance. 7. Public safety professionals operate flexibly and effectively within any portion of the Interoperability Continuum.

7 12 Guiding Principles: 8. State and Federal grants support multi- agency cooperation before strengthening single systems. ›Agencies struggling with operability should consider joining regional initiatives before solo efforts. 9. Neighboring agencies should collaborate in planning and acquiring communications systems. 8. State and Federal grants support multi- agency cooperation before strengthening single systems. ›Agencies struggling with operability should consider joining regional initiatives before solo efforts. 9. Neighboring agencies should collaborate in planning and acquiring communications systems.

8 12 Guiding Principles: 10. Public safety at all levels of government will find opportunities to deploy and use shared systems and connections. 11. Users should continue to plan migration paths to shared systems, but seize unplanned opportunities as they arise. 12. Public safety agencies, policymakers, industry, and the public will be educated how interoperable communications saves lives, money, and property. 10. Public safety at all levels of government will find opportunities to deploy and use shared systems and connections. 11. Users should continue to plan migration paths to shared systems, but seize unplanned opportunities as they arise. 12. Public safety agencies, policymakers, industry, and the public will be educated how interoperable communications saves lives, money, and property.

9 Initiative Areas  Four major initiative areas: ›Leadership & Coordination ›System Design & Planning ›Standards & Certification ›Standardization and Accreditation  22 actions within those initiatives that highlight steps needed, and define the partnerships required between the public safety community and all levels of government.  Four major initiative areas: ›Leadership & Coordination ›System Design & Planning ›Standards & Certification ›Standardization and Accreditation  22 actions within those initiatives that highlight steps needed, and define the partnerships required between the public safety community and all levels of government.

10 Initiative Areas  Leadership & Coordination ›Independent communication systems are designed and managed at all levels of government. ›Within systems of systems, no single entity is completely in charge of the combined communications network. ›All levels of government must jointly develop and exercise clear interoperability leadership structures for coordination, or confusion and inefficiency will reduce public safety service effectiveness.  Leadership & Coordination ›Independent communication systems are designed and managed at all levels of government. ›Within systems of systems, no single entity is completely in charge of the combined communications network. ›All levels of government must jointly develop and exercise clear interoperability leadership structures for coordination, or confusion and inefficiency will reduce public safety service effectiveness.

11 Initiative Areas  System Design & Interconnects ›A reliable, capable public safety system of systems is difficult to achieve and never finished. We must continue to define and build them to fit our roles and communities. -All levels of government design and manage independent communication systems, yet within systems of systems no single entity is in charge of the overall network. -Each system must be designed to interoperate with others, yet retain the ability to adapt as new technologies emerge.  System Design & Interconnects ›A reliable, capable public safety system of systems is difficult to achieve and never finished. We must continue to define and build them to fit our roles and communities. -All levels of government design and manage independent communication systems, yet within systems of systems no single entity is in charge of the overall network. -Each system must be designed to interoperate with others, yet retain the ability to adapt as new technologies emerge.

12 Initiative Areas  Standards & Certification: ›Connectivity and standards should be independently certified and tested to ensure equipment works as described by manufacturers and anticipated by users.  Different types of equipment and products support various means of interoperable communications.  For systems to interoperate, technical standards or planned connections must be in place. (For people to interoperate, joint procedures are needed.)  Standards & Certification: ›Connectivity and standards should be independently certified and tested to ensure equipment works as described by manufacturers and anticipated by users.  Different types of equipment and products support various means of interoperable communications.  For systems to interoperate, technical standards or planned connections must be in place. (For people to interoperate, joint procedures are needed.)

13 Initiative Areas  Standards & Accreditation: ›Nationally standardized protocols, procedures, and accreditation must be in place to establish consistency of operations and common skill sets across the country.  Standards & Accreditation: ›Nationally standardized protocols, procedures, and accreditation must be in place to establish consistency of operations and common skill sets across the country.

14 “ This proposed Nationwide Plan for Interoperable Communications is mere words until acted upon. The principles and proposed actions represent agreements we believe must be implemented to build and strengthen interoperability across the U.S. All levels of government and emergency response can play an important role in driving this Plan forward. ” “ This proposed Nationwide Plan for Interoperable Communications is mere words until acted upon. The principles and proposed actions represent agreements we believe must be implemented to build and strengthen interoperability across the U.S. All levels of government and emergency response can play an important role in driving this Plan forward. ” Emergency Response Council SAFECOM

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