Interoperability – "The ability for different public safety and government agencies to communicate via Radio Frequency links across discipline and jurisdictional lines in order to exchange critical information in times of emergency events, disasters, and planned mutual events."

On August 8, 2002, the FCC released a notice relative to the creation of special state or regional committees (DA-02-1957A1) regarding the FOURTH REPORT AND ORDER AND FIFTH NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING, DOCKET No. 96-86.  In the Fourth R&O & Fifth NPRM document, the FCC recognized the importance of placing certain planning requirements for preparing for interoperability into the hands of regional committees.  Having experience with previous 800 MHz Regional Planning Committees and the more recent 700 MHz Regional Planning Committees, the FCC established the concept of regional interoperability committees in the form of the SIECs (State Interoperability Executive Committees).

The above document includes information relative to each state's response to the requirement for some regional entity to become responsible for interoperability planning.  Further direct information, including lists and current status of the various states, is included in the following FCC Web address:  wireless.fcc.gov/publicsafety/700MHz/interop.html.

The NCC (National Coordinating Committee), an advisory group formed by the FCC to help formulate and recommend 700 MHz public safety spectrum technical and operational rules for the FCC, has also been tasked with addressing interoperability issues.  One of the NCC's work products has included an implementation guideline available via the NPSTC (National Public Safety Telecommunications Committee) website at www.npstc.org/nccsubcom.jsp.  This document is a live document designed to help 700 MHz Regional Planning Committees formulate and submit plans to the FCC in order to use the general-use 700 MHz channels designated for public safety.

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