Wisconsin Interoperability Initiative

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State Interoperability
Coordinator for help.

Upcoming Events & Training

5/31/12: SIMCOM '12
6/6/12: East Central SCIP Council
6/6/12: Region 45 700 MHz Planning Committee
6/6/12: Region 45 800 MHz Planning Committee
6/9/12: AUXCOM Training
7/12/12: Interoperability Council
8/6/12: COMT training

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State Plan (SCIP)

All Documents

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Updating the Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP)

In 2007, Wisconsin adopted its first Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP). The plan defined both short and long term goals to improved voice and data communications among public safety first responders.

Below are links to two documents as we begin to update the SCIP:

The SCIP Progress Update reports our progress on existing goals and objectives.
The Summary of SCIP Workshop Input provides a topical list of new or refined proposals for inclusion in an updated SCIP Plan. The topical input was obtained through two previous meetings with stakeholders.

This information is being re-distributed to you for further comment. You may want to consider telling us your perspective on relative priorities between topics or even some refinement or modification of a topic.

Your input is important and would assist the Interoperability Council represent the interests of all public safety.

There will be open discussion on this matter at the Interoperability Symposium on January 17, 2012 in Wausau WI.

For further input or questions, please contact Dave Spenner, Statewide Communications Interoperability Manager, by phone at 608-261-7535, or by email at david.spenner@wi.gov.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

FCC reminder notice on narrowband transition deadline

The Federal Communications Commission has issued a public notice reminding licensees, frequency coordinators, equipment manufacturers, and other interested parties of the Federal Communications Commission’s January 1, 2013 deadline for private land mobile radio licensees in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz (VHF/UHF) bands to migrate to narrowband (12.5 kHz or narrower) technology.

Download the FCC public notice on the narrowbanding deadline

Friday, December 09, 2011

Register now for the 2012 Interoperability Symposium

Please join us at the 2012 Wisconsin Interoperability Symposium. The meeting will be held in the Wausau area on January 17th and 18th. The event will bring together public safety stakeholders from across the state to learn and discuss issues affecting Wisconsin interoperability. The symposium is a great opportunity to learn about statewide interoperability activities, and is grant-funded, so there are no conference fees.

The event will also feature several stimulating interoperability break-out sessions:

Interoperability 101: A safe place to have your communications technology questions answered in layman’s terms.
ACU Bootcamp: Learn how to maximize your ACU product

The event is being held in conjunction with the annual State System Management Group (SSMG) meeting and will offer stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about Wisconsin's public safety radio communications strategies. You will also get an opportunity to comment on some of the new initiatives Wisconsin is considering for the Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP) update. Space is limited, so please visit the following website for more information and to register online:

www.fvtc.edu/scip

Friday, December 02, 2011

WISCOM training video

The Office of Justice Assistance has produced a short training video for WISCOM. The video provides a great overview of the state-wide radio system and how it can be used by first responders in Wisconsin. The video gives detailed information about the system, including a technological overview that is easy to understand.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Interoperable Communications Symposium set for January

The Third Annual Interoperable Communications Symposium will be held in Wausau, Wisconsin on January 17-18, 2012.

This Symposium brings together public safety officials to harmonize our efforts to enable first responders to talk via radio with who they need to, when they need to, during an emergency or other life-safety incident.

The schedule is being finalized but will include:

Update from the DHS Office of Emergency Communications
Interoperability Council Meeting
The Annual meeting of the Statewide System Management Group for selection of positions and leadership roles. The SSMG manages WISCOM, the statewide public safety radio system.
Topics on lessons learned and best practices for improving public safety communications.

The Symposium is planned to start at 12:30 PM on January 17, 2012 and conclude at 4:30 PM on January 18, 2012.

Attendees traveling from a distance may be eligible for lodging – watch for the registration announcement.

In a few weeks, registration will open through a web site sponsored by our Symposium partner, Fox Valley Technical Institute. Check back for further details soon.

Note that on January 19, 2012 - the day following the symposium - a supplemental WISCOM Implementation Workshop is scheduled (a separate pre-registration required) for those representatives of agencies interested in participating WISCOM Upgrade Grant Program.