Programming Guide for Interoperability Radio Channels

Overview To use communications equipment and systems effectively in all types of public safety communications, first responders must have access to channels used for multi disciplinary and multi !urisdictional response" Planning radio channel usage and programming interoperability channels into radios in advance of an emergency or planned event enhances preparedness" If communities plan their radio systems and operations to meet only their perceived immediate needs, they will be less able to give or receive assistance, either multi !urisdictional or multi discipline" Interoperability in the form of mutual aid to ad!acent !urisdictions or assistance to distant areas suffering a ma!or disaster requires advanced planning, including interoperable communications pre programming" #owever, technology alone, no matter how e$pansive or advanced, is limited in its effectiveness unless it is used regularly in day to day operations" %or personnel to effectively use interoperability channels, adequate training and e$ercises are also needed" &ac'ground The (epartment of #omeland )ecurity *(#)+, with its %ederal partners, provides research, development, testing and evaluation, guidance, tools, and templates on communications related issues to emergency response agencies" (#) helps the emergency response community and local, tribal, )tate, and %ederal policy ma'ers address critical elements for success as they plan and implement interoperability solutions" The programming templatesi were developed based on practitioner input and through practical e$perience" Consistent with ,I-) principles, we have used the .PCO/,P)TC )tandard Channel ,omenclatureii as the source for channel names0 and we have used the 1Communications Resource .vailability 2or'sheet3iii *IC) 456., revised 7/4886+ as the means to present the channel programming data" &ecause different radio models have different capabilities and limitations, we recogni9e that the information contained in these templates cannot be programmed identically in all radios" 2e have therefore not attempted to create a 1universal3 programming guide, nor have we constrained the e$amples to the lowest common denominator" Coordination with your regional or statewide interoperability coordinator is recommended" Purpose This guide is intended for radio system managers and technicians responsible for designing and programming interoperability channels for public safety radios in their community" The content presented in this guide is based on %CC and ,TI. regulations and public notices, the ,I%OG, and the .PCO/,P)TC )tandard Channel ,omenclature0 and uses the Communications Resource .vailability 2or'sheet *IC) %orm 456., revised 7/4886+ as the standard form for presenting data *template+"

#ow to :se this Tool This guide is intended to help technicians to program radios" The template in this guide is consistent with %CC and ,TI. rules and regulations and the ,P)TC )tandard Channel ,omenclature" )ample data is included for reference0 however, it is important to note that the sample data is geared for illustration purposes and not toward the needs of a specific !urisdiction or towards the features or limitations of any specific radio" The e$amples used in this document strive for ma$imum capability ; multi !urisdictional, multi disciplinary interoperability" The samples are there to provide e$amples and guidance only and should ,OT be interpreted as mandates" This document does not address every issue that !urisdictions, regions, or states may face when see'ing to program radios" Programming should be customi9ed to the capability or resource for which they are established and should consider unique characteristics of specific states or participating !urisdictions" Customi9ing the Templates 2e recommend programming as many of the interoperability channels as your radio can accommodate, even if they are for disciplines outside of your own" %or e$ample< in addition to the law enforcement channels, law enforcement systems should include fire and =-) channels0 fire and =-) systems should include the fire and =-) channels and law enforcement channels" .ll systems should include the non discipline specific and 1incident response3 channels" 2hen possible and as space is available, the ,O.. .ll #a9ards 2eather Radio broadcast channels should be included" 5" :nderstand the licensing or authori9ation requirements for channel usage *maritime, aviation, >-R, etc"0 channels assigned to you for a specific geographical area vs" shared mutual aid and nationwide interoperability channels+ 4" Review the e$isting local and regional communications policies and programming guides" 7" (etermine which 9ones to include in the radios" If the radio has limited capacity, prioriti9e 9ones based on factors such as pro$imity to maritime areas or prevalence of federal responders" .dditionally, the >aw =nforcement %ederal Interoperability Channels appear in three versions< the first version has a mi$ of digital and analog channels, as specified by the :) (epartment of ?ustice0 the second version has all analog channels0 and the third version has all digital channels" If there are capacity limitations, the first version is recommended" @" Confirm the 9one/channel plan with the appropriate CO-> or reviewing authority"

A" Berify CTC))/,.C programming for your area" Cou may want to have multiple 9ones with the same frequencies0 one 9one with CTC))/,.C settings to support your local operations, and another 9one configured to support nationwide interoperability" D" Complete template 6" Complete documentation E" Program test radios F" Test radio operation and verify functionality 58" Program remaining radios"

B#% and :#% Programming Templates available at http<//www"safecomprogram"gov/).%=CO-/nifog *:R> verified 7/F/4855+
ii

1.PCO/,P)TC .,) 5"58@"5 4858< )tandard Channel ,omenclature for the Public )afety Interoperability Channels3, http<//www"apcointl"org/new/commcenterF55/documents/.PCO ,P)TC .,)5 58@ 5web"pdf *:R> verified 7/F/4855+
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IC) 456. 2or'sheet< http<//www"npstc"org/resourceC(/IC)456.G48verG4887H86"$ls Instructions< http<//www"npstc"org/resourceC(/IC)456.G48verG4887H86G48Instructions"pdf =$ample< http<//www"npstc"org/resourceC(/IC)456.G48verG4887H86G48=I.-P>="pdf *:R>s verified 7/F/4855+