You asked if all the public safety personnel (e. g. State Police, local police, and ambulance personnel) in the state use a common radio system.

SUMMARY

The state has common radio frequencies that can be used by all public safety personnel. However, the frequencies have only partial interoperability. This means the system is available for use only during specific incidents and between agencies within the affected area or when a specific agency asks to be allowed to communicate with another agency. The use of the common frequency varies among geographical areas.

Additionally, public safety personnel have common radio frequencies that allow for inter-departmental communication. For example, fire officials have a common radio frequency allowing fire departments to communicate statewide. A plan is underway to move toward a system of complete interoperability.

COMMON RADIO FREQUENCY CAPABILITIES

By law, the Office of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications (OSET), within the Department of Public Safety (DPS), is responsible for maintaining a statewide emergency service telecommunications plan and providing frequency coordination for the State Police, local police, and fire and emergency medical services (EMS) (CGS § 28-24(a)(1)(4)). Currently, multi-state regional plans mandated by the Federal Communications Commission have provided for an 800 megahertz band (ICALL) and channels for multiple agencies to use as common radio frequencies to communicate with each other, according to George Pohorilak, OSET director. Within the band there are four tactical channels (ITAC) and one ICALL channel available for common use.

The communication system works as follows, according to Jerry Zwarwanski, telecommunication engineer at OSET. Local agencies are provided with 800 megahertz band radios. State Police radios are already equipped with the band capabilities. If one agency, for example, the State Police, wishes to communicate with another agency, such as the West Hartford police, it calls in on the 800 megahertz radio then requests that a tactical channel be opened for communication. The channel is then opened by OSET and the two agencies can then communicate on the channel.

However, the system is capable only of partial interoperability, which means that not every police department or emergency service agency can communicate on the frequency at any time. Only when there is a specific event or emergency is the common frequency used, under DPS guidance, to allow necessary personnel in affected areas to speak to one another and coordinate emergency services. Federal public safety officials are not included in this system.

In addition to the statewide frequency, specific public safety departments communicate among themselves on designated frequencies, according to Pohorilak. For example, the State Fire Chiefs Technical Advisory Committee maintains a statewide communications system for dispatch coordination as part of the State Fire Rescue Disaster Plan (SFRDP). Within the SFRDP, the local interoperability needs of the three state regions and eight counties are supported using 33 megahertz low band frequencies. Additionally, every ambulance and paramedic in Connecticut is equipped with a two-way radio capable of communicating on the UHF Medical (MED) radio system. There are 13 Coordinated Medical Dispatch Centers. These serve as communication centers that interconnect EMS personnel with any of the state's 31 hospital emergency departments and three free-standing emergency medical care facilities. The same capabilities exist for the Department of Health, the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and the Connecticut Office of Emergency Management (see attached Plan for Enhanced Public Safety Communications Interoperability).

CURRENT COMMON FREQUENCY USE

In 2003, DPS issued radios to every fire and police department's commanding patrol officer, according to Mike Varney at the Department of Information Technology. Radio access is also provided to public safety answering points, which are facilities operated on a 24-hour basis that receive 9-1-1 calls and dispatch emergency response services. Authorized personnel use the radios at the scene of major incidents to coordinate the efforts of several departments in the affected area. The common frequency is used more frequently in some places than others. For example, in rural areas, the limited number of public safety personnel makes frequent cooperation necessary, so the rural public safety personnel tend to use the system more. Many rural areas had already developed regional interoperability systems before the state began working to develop a system.

Additionally, the number of radios available and their use vary among municipal departments, according to Jerry Zarwanski of OSET. For example, West Hartford has 500 radios which are used by its police and fire departments, the EMS, and the Department of Public Works. Other municipalities make radios available only to their police or fire departments. OSET ensures that at least one radio is given to each town's police and fire department and EMS.

FUTURE USE

Working groups are devising a system that would ensure complete interoperability throughout the state, according to Porhorilak. The plan would require a regional approach in which safety personnel would coordinate efforts at the regional level, using a common radio frequency within that region. There is also a plan to make another round of equipment deliveries to police and fire departments. The plan does not address federal authorities.

LM: ro