Vermont Communications VCOMM

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Vermont Communications (VCOMM)

• May 21, 2009

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VCOMM Vision

• To create a Public Safety communications network
  that is independent of legacy networks for
  Vermonts Public Safety Practitioners
• To leverage Homeland Security funds, Federal
  earmarks and other funding opportunities for the
  build out of the network

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VCOMM Priorities

• Lifeline eight PSAP updates
• PSIC Emergency Request Program
• Now includes emergency alerting pagers for the
  Fire EMS services
• Roll-out of SOPs
• Starting the first responders along the path of
  narrowband compatibility to meet the following
  FCC mandates
• January 1, 2011
• FCC will not accept new applications for 25 kHz
  bandwidth
• January 1, 2013
• All radio users are prohibited from using 25 kHz
  bandwidth equipment

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VCOMM Learning Process

• Frequency coordination between FCC Industry
  Canada
• Congressional Delegation LG Dubie assistance
• May, 2008 DC meeting with VCOMM, FCC, Industry
  Canada, State Department and Vermonts
  Congressional Delegates
• Initial Lifeline plan to use 32 sites with both
  UHF VHF
• VCOMM lost the potential to use Mansfield (UHF
  Channels) and Jay Peak (ALL channels) but was
  able to keep Bellevue Hill with some restrictions
• Most of the other sites that fell within the
  line A region were severely restricted from a
  technical standpoint
• Given the restrictions on these hilltops, VCOMM
  had to find lower, alternative replacement sites

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VCOMM Learning Process Cont

• June, 2008 VCOMM officially decided to cancel
  original Voice Radio Interoperability Solution
  RFP and rebid
• After losing some northern sites VCOMM looked to
  VELCO for assistance
• VELCO offered alternate northern sites where they
  had existing sub-stations
• VCOMM submitted these locations to the FCC and
  Industry Canada and on-air tests were conducted
  in September by the FCC/Industry Canada
  engineers, VELCO and VCOMM
• 39 UHF and 40 VHF sites approved by on-air tests
• U.S. Canada Cross Border Interoperable
  Communications Workshop May, 2009

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Lawsuit

• There is a lawsuit pending against VCOMM in
  Washington County Court. One of the vendors in
  the initial RFP is suing to gain access to all
  other vendors documents and proposals.
• VCOMM is contesting this and is being represented
  by the Vermont AGs office.

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Possible Partnership with VELCO

• Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) is
  building statewide radio system for utilities
• Early in 2008 VELCO expressed a desire to
  co-locate at sites with VCOMM to share expenses
• VCOMM and VELCO are evaluating potential
  harmonization opportunities including the
  selection of radio sites that would optimize
  coverage and minimizes the total number of sites
  required throughout Vermont
• The state and VELCO continue to explore possible
  partnerships and are hopeful that when the
  states final RFP is available it will include
  sites that overlap with those owned or proposed
  by VELCO

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Standard Operating Procedures

• VCOMM Operations Committee completed draft NIMS
  Compliant SOPs
• Draft SOPs are currently posted on the VCOMM web
  site (www.dps.state.vt.us/vcomm) for first
  responder feedback
• The SOPs will be used as an overall guideline
  throughout Vermont
• The principle objective of the SOPs is to outline
  delineation of authority, roles and procedures
  for responders to use when communicating on the
  national calling and tactical channels
• It shall be up to each individual agency to
  develop specific SOPs for their respective agency
  relative to operational and technical guidelines

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Current Mutual Aid Scenario (All fire departments
share neighboring communities channels to assist
each other)
Fire Department A Channel 1 Dispatch Channel
2 Fire Ground/ Mutual
Aid Channel 3 Department B Channel 4
Department C Channel 5 Department D Channel 6
Department E Channel 7 Department F Channel 8
Department G Channel 9 Department H Channel 10
Department I
Fire Dept. B
Fire Dept. C
Fire Dept. D
Fire Dept. E
Fire Dept. A
Fire Dept. G
Fire Dept. F
Fire Dept. H
Fire Dept. I
Total 10 channels or more typically installed in
Fire Department As radio
Some departments use more than two primary
channels.
NORTHERN VERMONT
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Interoperability Through VCOMM
FREQUENCY TABLE The following VCOMM Channels
have been established. Name Purpose V-CALL
155.7525 DISPATCH / LIFELINE / REACHBACK V-TAC
1 151.1375 COMMAND V-TAC 2 154.4525
TACTICAL V-TAC 3 158.7375 TACTICAL V-TAC4
159.4725 TACTICAL (Primary Use Air
Operations) U-CALL 453.2125 DISPATCH /
LIFELINE / REACHBACK U-TAC 1 453.4625
COMMAND U-TAC 2 453.7125 TACTICAL U-TAC 3
453.8625 TACTICAL
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Calling Frequencies

• U-CALL and V-CALL Lifeline Reachback
• The VCOMM calling channels shall be used to
  enable communications between dispatch and
  responding agencies
• The calling channels may also be used for
  assigning tactical frequencies
• Dispatch will share with incoming units which
  VCOMM Command Net is being used for IC
  communications with Agency Commanders
• All PSAPs will be capable of communications on
  VCOMM calling channels to provide a lifeline
  capability throughout the state

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Pre-Identify Command Nets

• U-TAC 1 and V-TAC 1
• Requires ranking individual from each agency has
  two radios
• Command Net and Agency-specific tactical net

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Pre-Identify Command Nets Cont

• The IC and Agency Commanders use the VCOMM
  Command Net
• Agency Commanders communicate with subordinates
  on tactical frequencies
• UHF and VHF dual-radios are required for Agency
  Commanders
• Dispatch does not monitor the VCOMM Command Net
• The VCOMM Command Net Channels are
• V-TAC 1
• U-TAC 1

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Pre-Identify Command Nets Cont

• If the IC is Fire or EMS, the Command Net is
  V-TAC 1 unless otherwise assigned
• Recognizing some fire depts operate on VHF
• If the IC is Law Enforcement, the Command Net is
  U-TAC 1 unless otherwise assigned
• If there is Unified Command, then the Command Net
  is U-TAC 1 or V-TAC 1 as assigned

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Figure 1. Example of VCOMM Command Net with
Subordinate Agencies (Police, Fire, and EMS)
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Figure 2. Example of VCOMM Command Net with
Subordinate Agencies (Police on a Tactical Net,
all Fire personnel on another Tactical Net)
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Figure 3. Example of VCOMM Command Net with
Subordinate Functional Sections (Functional
Sections being Staging Area, Security, and Entry)
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Pre-Identify Command Nets Cont

• VCOMM
• If response is other than routine in size or
  location, use a VCOMM Command Net.
• 2. If Fire or EMS is the IC, the Command Net is
  V-TAC 1 unless otherwise assigned.
• 3. If Law Enforcement is the IC, the Command
  Net is U-TAC 1 unless otherwise assigned.
• 4. U-Call and V-Call are used to reach Dispatch
  Centers.
• 5. The IC and Agency Commanders will use the
  Command Net.
• 6. Agency Commanders will direct agency or
  functional subordinates on Tactical Nets.
• 7. Tactical Nets available
• V-TAC 2, V-TAC 3, V-TAC 4
• U-TAC 2, U-TAC 3
• Agency-specific frequencies
• 8. If there are Air Ops, V-TAC 4 is used solely
  for Air Ops.

• Fits on a card
• Know arriving on-scene what the frequency plan is

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U-Call/V-Call Users Guide

• Who determines when to use U-Call/V-Call and
  U-Tac/V-Tac?
• It is the responsibility of the Incident
  Commander to determine when to use the VCOMM
  Command Net
• What are U-Call/V-Call and U-Tac/V-Tac?
• U-Call and V-Call are shared national calling
  channels and U-Tac and V-Tac are shared national
  tactical channels. These channels are for
  multi-agency responses similar to Fire Ground and
  Mutual Aid channels. The U-Tac/V-Tac frequencies
  will allow interoperability between all agencies
  who have these frequencies in their radios. The
  U-Call/V-Call frequencies will allow direct
  communication with a PSAP while responding to any
  region in Vermont.
• Note When the Incident Commander, Unified
  Command or Communications Officer decides to
  communicate on these frequencies, the area PASP
  should be notified that the U-Tac/V-Tac
  frequencies are being utilized.

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U-Call/V-Call Users Guide Cont

• When can these frequencies be used?
• During any multi-agency response.
• Where can I use these frequencies?
• Anywhere in the state of Vermont. In the future
  you will be able to use these frequencies in our
  neighboring States Provinces for
  interoperability or for lifeline requests.
• Why would I want to use these?
• They will alleviate the congestion often
  encountered at an incident by having multiple
  channels available for use.
• Note When the Incident Commander, Unified
  Command or Communications Officer decides to
  communicate on these frequencies, the area PASP
  should be notified that the U-Tac/V-Tac
  frequencies are being utilized.

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Questions
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Emergency Request Summary
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Approved Emergency Requests
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PSIC Emergency Request Program

• A portion of the 4,476,761 Public Safety
  Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program
  funds will be used for the Emergency Request
  Program
• PSIC Emergency Request Guidelines require a 20
  hard match from the requesting agency. For every
  4 of federal share, there must be a 1
  non-federal (local/state) share. For example, a
  department proposing to spend 10,000 on
  equipment would have to provide 2,000 in
  department funding and the PSIC grant would
  provide the remaining 8,000 in federal funding.
• There needs to be an urgent need for the request.
  For example
• Lack of local funding to support the total
  request.
• Communications equipment incapable of accepting
  narrowband/interoperable frequencies.
• Mobile radio requests must match apparatus count.
• VCOMM WILL NOT fund the following equipment
  during this phase of the project
• Fixed base stations/dispatch consoles because of
  FCC licensing issues costs
• An upgrade to fully compliant P-25 systems
  (Digital systems)
• More than two mobiles for POVs for volunteer fire
  departments and EMS services.
• Costs associated with the expansion of existing
  or the creation of new dispatch centers

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PSIC Emergency Request Program Cont

• VCOMM will fund emergency alerting pagers for
  fire and EMS departments as follows
• Pagers must be narrowband capable.
• Up to 5,000 (total cost) per department. VCOMM
  share 4,000, local share 1,000.
• All requests for pagers must be submitted to
  VCOMM by June 30, 2009.
• If possible, a minimum two channel pager should
  be purchased with the second channel dedicated to
  151.1375 MHz.
• VCOMM will only fund communications equipment for
  first responders.
• VCOMM will only replace non-compliant existing
  radios that are presently in service.
• All applicants must be NIMS compliant per FY 05,
  06, 07 and 08 FEMA Guidance.
• Application for funding must be received,
  approved and a grant agreement issued prior to
  expenditure of grant and matching funds.

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Memoranda of Understanding

• VCOMM has entered into Memoranda of Understanding
  with the following for the purposes of
  interoperable communications for local and state
  emergency responders and other emergency
  officials
• Vermont Ambulance Association
• Vermont Association of Chiefs of Police
• Vermont Career Fire Chiefs Association
• Vermont Fire Chiefs Association
• Vermont Sheriffs Association
• Vermont State Firefighters Association
• Vermont Department of Public Safety

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Sustainability

• 1.1M anticipated loaded into grants until 2011
• Continued Federal funding to include
  Congressional Delegates seeking earmarks
• State funding
• VELCO partnership
• User fee system

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Questions