Mutual Aid and Interoperability

CTC Presentation

February 23, 2006

Chuck Miller Office of Enterprise Policy & Planning

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Interoperability

• What is Mutual Aid and Interoperability– The ability of First Responders (Police, Fire, EMS, EOC,

and others) to communicate with neighboring agencies for the purpose of providing assistance to each other.

• Interoperability Mandate – – First Responders must be able to communicate with each

other to provide immediate and coordinated assistance in times of emergencies.

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Current InteroperabilityCurrent Interoperability Capabilities

– First responders use dedicated tactical channels for their daily operational requirements. These channels are often repeated within a localized area to extend and provide adequate coverage to the particular agency using the channel.

– Many agencies attempt interoperability by swapping radios or by providing their tactical channel to neighboring agencies. These channels are then programmed into the radios of neighboring agencies, and are used as needed.

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Current Interoperability Problems• Problems with the Current Interoperability

– Tactical channels that are used for Channel Sharing severely limit the owning agency during a mid to large scale situation/crisis.

– The number of channels programmed into radios increases proportionally as additional agencies are added and quickly grows out of control.

– Channel limitations of the equipment, monitoring limitations of the first responder, or signal loss when out of range of local radios or towers limits the effectiveness of channel sharing.

– Radios manufactured by different companies are not always compatible. In some cases this requires the Officer to carry two or more radios.

– Additional cost is incurred where radios are provided to neighboring agencies (radio swap).

– One agency may not share channels with a neighboring agency for a number of reasons. This typically results in a communications relay from person to person to …

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Where we want to be• Desired –

– Use nationally recognized analog channels for Mutual Aid.

– Provide a means of patching two or more of these Mutual Aid channels together.

– Provide Mutual Aid coverage across the Commonwealth.

– Reduce or eliminate the need to use tactical channels.

– Reduce or eliminate the requirements for radio swaps, or channel sharing.

– Ensure that existing equipment can be used.– Ensure that no additional manpower is required by

participating agencies.– Ensure that it is free to use for participating agency.– Ensure that it requires no or minimal additional

training.– Ensure that an MOU establishing rules for use is

agreed to by participants.– Elicit maximum participation of all first responder

agencies.

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SolutionFrequency Bands (Active in Kentucky)

68%

29%

3%

150 Mhz

450 Mhz

800 Mhz

• 150 MHz Mutual Aid system– Reallocate and retune existing

sites in the KLEEN and IC networks (35 Sites)

– Fill in the gaps by adding new sites (3 -10)

– Replace all Radios (38 - 45)

• 450 MHz Mutual Aid system– Replace selected radios (30-50%)

• 800 MHz Mutual Aid system– Add new sites to selected

locations (18)

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Solution (continued)

• Towers– Replace Antennae systems and feed line– Install Lightning protection– Install/upgrade grounding

• Circuits (KEWS)– Add circuits from the tower site to the

nearest KSP Dispatch center

• Dispatch Centers– Consolidate all Mutual Aid circuits

within a region to the serving KSP Dispatch Center

– Program the KSP Console to allow Dispatchers to patch (cross-connect) the Mutual Aid circuits within their region.

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150 MHz Band150 MHz Band 450 MHz Band450 MHz Band

800 MHz Band800 MHz Band

Base Station Controller KSP

Owensboro PD

Base Station Controller Dispatcher

Results

Three Mutual Aid Networks are created and available for use

independently or…

Base Station Controller

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Radio

Results (continued)

… they can be tied together as one large network.

KSP Dispatch

Radio

Radio

BIM

BIM

BIM

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Mutual Aid Regions

The Mutual Aid Regions are aligned with the KSP Posts to take advantage of the Statewide dispatch capability already present.

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Milestones / Deliverables

MilestoneCompletion Date

(Target)

Repair the existing Infrastructure COMPLETE

Augment the 800MHz Network COMPLETE

Add new 800MHz Radios at selected sites (18) COMPLETE

Augment the 150MHz VHF Network as needed March 2006

Replace all of the 150MHz VHF Mutual Aid Radios (45) May 2006

Replace selected 450MHz UHF Mutual Aid Radios (31-45) TBD

Create a web page for Interoperability April 2006

Replace the remaining UHF Mutual Aid Radios (50) TBD

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Participation

1. Download this MOU from www.kwiec.ky.gov/interoperability.

2. Fill it out completely and have it signed by the senior person in the Agency.

3. Return it to the address provided.

4. Check the website after ten working days to ensure that your agency has been added to the approved agency list.

5. Once you see your name on the list, program the radios with the Mutual Aid frequencies you desire.

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Where can I find more information?

www.kwiec.ky.gov

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Questions

QuestionsQuestions??