NCJ Number
181729
Date Published
Agencies
NIJ
Publication Series
Publication Type
Article
Annotation
Broadly defined, "interoperability" refers to the ability to
transmit all types of communications electronically, including
voice, data, and images; this article focuses on one aspect: the
ability of public safety agencies to talk to each other via
radios.
Abstract
Primary obstacles to effective communication by radio among the
staff of public safety agencies are incompatible radio frequency
bands and limited funding to update equipment. John Clark, former
Deputy Chief of Public Safety for the Federal Communications
Commission, views the issue in larger terms, however. He states
that the problem with public safety interoperability lies with
management, leadership, institutional control, and institutional
culture. Several approaches can foster enhanced communication
among agencies. These include the use of digital radio systems,
which operate more efficiently with radio spectrum and offer more
options; and the use of products and services that traditionally
have been sold only to consumers, such as satellite paging
systems, cellular phones, and personal communication systems that
transmit both voice and data. These alternatives are helping to
alleviate existing public safety spectrum congestion and to
expand the geographic boundaries of signal areas. Sharing radio
towers is another approach. This article reports on the National
Institute of Justice's efforts to support solutions. This
includes the integration of 12 agencies in San Diego County
(California) and the creation of AGILE in 1998. AGILE has four
main components: supporting research and development; testing,
evaluating, and piloting technologies; developing standards; and
educating and reaching out to end users and policymakers. The
article concludes with a discussion of the future of
interoperability. 4 notes and a 11-item bibliography
Date Created: November 2, 2010
Downloads
Length: 6 pages
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