DHS Tackles Emergency Communications Interoperability

Just as methodical programs to improve emergency communications interoperability are building up speed, new technologies threaten to derail the entire effort. Emergency responders find that new mobile systems bring valuable capabilities, such as enhanced data access, and they embrace these technologies eagerly. But the advanced communications systems often do not mesh with each other as well as traditional broadband radio links, and their innovative approaches pose new challenges. Ensuring communications interoperability in emergency response also is complicated by differences among the organizations involved in the effort, homeland security experts say. State authorities, local police and fire departments, the National Guard, the federal government and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) all could be key players in response and recovery operations. Almost all of them are silos when it comes to their communication systems, and achieving interoperability purely by technological solutions is not an option for planners.

This is a must read! This interesting article was recently published in AFCEA'S magazine 'Signal'

https://www.afcea.org/content/dhs-tackles-emergency-communications-interoperability