Statewide Interoperability Office

What is Interoperability?

Effective emergency response relies on interoperability, enabling emergency providers and government officials to communicate across different jurisdictions, disciplines, and governmental levels when necessary and authorized. Crucially, reliable and timely communication among public safety responders, and between these agencies and citizens, is often vital for saving lives.

Why is Interoperability so Important?

Interoperability ensures that emergency response providers and relevant government officials can communicate as needed and authorized across different jurisdictions, disciplines, and levels of government. Effective and timely communication among public safety responders, and between these agencies and citizens, is crucial for saving lives in many situations.

Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee

In July 2008, the Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee was established by the Governor and on June 18, 2024, the Governor reconstituted the Committee.

The Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee offers governance and policy-level guidance on public safety emergency communications interoperability. The Committee also champions the efficient and effective use of resources for all public safety emergency communications and interoperability matters.

The Committee actively promotes cooperation among federal, state, and local public safety agencies. It also establishes funding priorities for statewide interoperability projects and offers guidance on the development of a statewide interoperable radio and data communications system. In collaboration with the Program Management Office of the Department of State Police, the Committee is instrumental in creating and implementing this statewide interoperable communications system.

To carry out its work, the Committee may set up work groups and subcommittees as needed.

The Committee has up to twenty-one members. Of these, ten serve ex officio. The Secretary of Emergency Management chairs the Committee.