March 11, 2008
Missouri’s Fire Service:
As I am sure you are aware, the grant
application period for the Assistance to Firefighter’s Grant (AFG) opened on March 3rd
and will close on April 4, 2008.
One of the areas of potential funding
is purchase of interoperable communication equipment. Grant guidance for the last few
years has included language indicating the grant applicant must demonstrate how the award
will:
“ … implement
interoperable communications capabilities which are certified by the appropriate State
Administrative Agency and DHS as being aligned with the applicable Statewide
Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP) and coordinated with relevant local, State,
and Federal first responder and other organizations;”
In September 2007, Governor Blunt
appointed Jim Lundsted to serve as the state’s Interoperable Communications Officer.
Mr. Lundsted was tasked with developing Missouri’s Statewide Communications
Interoperability Plan (SCIP), which was recently submitted to Department of Homeland
Security and is currently awaiting approval. The plan is to develop a hybrid trunked VHF
radio system, with interoperability with existing regional communications networks by use
of standards-based intersystem regional network switches. The system proposes using VHF
(150 MHz) P25 trunking in rural areas of the state, and would link to existing regional
700/800 MHz systems where they have been, or will be constructed in the future via
gateways and our regional switches.
We are closely monitoring ongoing fire
service concerns with digital trunked radio networks. We acknowledge the importance of
analog, non-trunked tactical communications for fire ground communications operations. The
use of the term “hybrid” in our plan refers to the recommended network’s
ability to use VHF trunked, digital communications for wide area use, but interoperate
with 700/800 MHz regional communication systems and also
VHF narrowband analog operations where necessary.
While final approval of our plan may
not be completed before the grant application period ends, it is strongly recommended that
agencies submitting a communications grant proposal provide a copy of such to Mr. Lundsted
for review to ensure compliance with the SCIP to meet grant eligibility requirements.
The SCIP can be viewed at www.dps.mo.gov/HomelandSecurity/Communications.htm.
A brief overview of the State’s interoperability strategy is included for your review
and also available on the Web at www.dps.mo.gov/HomelandSecurity/MissouriInteroperabilityoverview.pdf
The AFG program allows submission of
regional interoperability projects by which multiple organizations serving more than one
local jurisdiction benefit directly from the activities implemented with grant funds. A
regional project is designed to facilitate interoperable communications and efficiency
among the participating jurisdictions.
If interested in developing a regional
interoperability project proposal, you are encouraged to contact Mr. Lundsted for
technical advice and direction to ensure compliance with the SCIP is being met. He can be
contacted at (573) 522-6273 or e-mail Jim.Lundsted@dps.mo.gov
If you have any questions or need
further information please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Lundsted or myself.
Sincerely,
Randy L. Cole
State Fire Marshal
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