Interoperability Cornerstones: 
The Interoperability Continuum


Summit on Implementing Wireless Communications


May 2, 2005


Thomas Coty, Director 
Technology and Standards, 
SAFECOM 
SAFECOM@dhs.gov 


Public Safety Wireless
Interoperability

Wireless interoperability is the ability of public safety 
service and support providers to talk with each other via 
voice and data: 

. On demand 
. In real time 
. When needed 
. When authorized 



Why Is Interoperability Important?

. Improves the ability of public safety practitioners to 
reduce the loss of life and property in emergency 
situations 

. Facilitates rapid and efficient interaction among all 
public safety organizations 

. Provides immediate and coordinated assistance in 
day-to-day missions, task force operations, and 
mass-casualty incidents 



SAFECOM Program

. First national program designed by public safety for 
public safety. 
. SAFECOM makes it possible for the public safety 

community to leverage resources by promoting 
coordination and cooperation across all levels of 
government. 


With its partners, SAFECOM is working to assure 
a safer America through effective public safety 
communications. 


Practitioner-Driven Approach


Highest Frequency Priority 

Local Agency-Specific Regional 

Inter-Agency & Inter-Disciplinary 

State and Federal 

Lowest Frequency Priority 


Interoperability Cornerstones

. Coordinated Grant Guidance 

. Statement of Requirements (SoR) 

. Statewide Communications Interoperability 
Planning (SCIP) Methodology 

. RapidCom and the Interoperability Continuum



Public Safety Statement of
Requirements (SoR)

• The SoR is a practitioner created set of communications
requirements 
– It is a living document 

• Version 1.0 
-Released in March 2004 

• Version 1.1 
-Draft is complete; being vetted through Public Safety/NPSTC 

• Version 2.0 
-Will begin to focus on quantitative requirements 
-Work is underway 


SCIP Methodology



SAFECOM recentlyreleased the Statewide 
Communications 
Interoperability Planning
(SCIP) Methodology, a tool
that outlines a step-by-step
planning process for
developing a locally-driven,
statewide strategic plan to
enhance communications 
interoperability. 


RapidCom



In May 2004, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the launch of 
RapidCom, an initiative to help improve capabilities for immediate, incident-level, 
interoperable emergency communications in ten high-threat urban areas. 

The DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate, through the SAFECOM 
program, led the effort, working in cooperation with federal partners such as the 
DHS Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP), Department of Justice (DOJ) 25 
Cities program, and National Institute of Justice (NIJ) CommTech program to 
provide the Rapid Emergency-Level Interim Communications Interoperability 
(RapidCom) initiative in the following urban areas— 

Boston, Massachusetts 
Miami, Florida 
Chicago, Illinois 
National Capital Region 
Houston, Texas 
New York, New York 
Jersey City, New Jersey 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
Los Angeles, California 
San Francisco, California 


RapidCom Findings



Key Findings 

Although each of the RapidCom urban areas’ needs varied basedon
the unique characteristics of the communities, common themes
emerged throughout the initiative, including: 

• RapidCom urban areas were overwhelmed by disparate federal
programs offering a variety of uncoordinated assistance.

• RapidCom urban areas were interested in making more informed
decisions and exchanging lessons learned and best practices with other
RapidCom urban areas. 

• RapidCom urban areas had procured equipment that was not yet fully
operational. They were looking for planning tools to broaden awareness
of current communications capabilities and help make their equipment
operational. 



Interoperability Continuum chart


www.safecomprogram.gov
info@safecomprogram.gov

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