Press Releases
For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryContact: Donald Tighe, 202-282-8010September 27, 2004
Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge today announced the October 1, 2004,launch of the Office of Interoperability and Compatibility, along with therelease of tools designed to help state and local public safety practitionersimprove communications interoperability.
The Office of Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC), part of the Science& Technology directorate, will oversee the wide range of public safetyinteroperability programs and efforts currently spread across Homeland Security.These programs address critical interoperability issues relating to publicsafety and emergency response, including communications, equipment, training,and other areas as needs areentified.
This office will ensure that Homeland Security is exercising itsleadership role to bring local, state, and federal efforts together in apartnership that is essential to national progress on interoperability, saidSecretary Ridge. This is a national effort, not a federal effort, and I thankthe first responder community for their initiative and collaboration.
Specific responsibilities for the OIC will include:
- Supporting the creation of interoperability standards;
- Establishing a comprehensive research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) program for improving public safety interoperability;
- Identifying and certifying all DHS programs that touch on interoperability;
- Integrating coordinated grant guidance across all DHS grant making agencies that touch on public safety interoperability;
- Overseeing the development and implementation of technical assistance for public safety interoperability;
- Conducting pilot demonstrations;
- Creating an interagency interoperability coordination council; and
- Coordinating and working closely with the new National Incident Management System (NIMS) Integration Center.
The OIC will help leverage public safety community resources by promotingcooperation across all levels of government and coordination among federalprograms and activities related to interoperability. As a central clearinghousefor information about and assistance with interoperability issues, the officewill reduce unnecessary duplication in public safety programs and spending, andwillentify and promote interoperability best practices in the public safetyarena.
Homeland Security is also distributing communications interoperabilityimprovement tools an Interoperability Continuum guide, and StatewideCommunications Interoperability Planning methodology to leaders in all fiftystates and fifty high-threat urban areas.
The Interoperability Continuum, developed through local and HomelandSecurity collaboration in ten high-threat urban areas,entifies five criticalsuccess factors that communities must consider as they work to improvecommunications interoperability. The Continuum provides guidance for increasingfrequency of use of equipment, creating a joint governance structure, developingstandard operating procedures, integrating technology solutions with existingsystems, and conducting training and exercises. The methodology for StatewideCommunications Interoperability Planning grew out of Homeland Security work inthe Commonwealth of Virginia.