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Oregon to Explore Statewide Public Safety Network

The Statewide Interoperability Executive Council will develop a plan to create a wireless communications network and make funding recommendations.

SALEM, Ore. -- Gov. John Kitzhaber signed an executive order this week to establish a statewide council to plan for the creation of a wireless communication system to support public safety agencies at all levels of government.

"To do their job effectively, these professionals depend on mission-critical information relayed via wireless communication systems," Kitzhaber said, in a statement. "Interoperable communication systems are the cornerstone of being able to provide a coordinated response to emergencies."

In Oregon, as in many other states, not all public safety agencies can communicate with each other simultaneously during an emergency.

The Statewide Interoperability Executive Council will direct the planning, designing and implementing guidelines, best practices and standard approaches to address Oregon's public safety communications issues.

The council will also recommend funding strategies that support development of a statewide system.

The Council will be made up of representatives from a wide range of public safety agencies from the state, local governments and the federal government, including: The Oregon State Police; the state's Office of Emergency Management; the state's Department of Transportation; Oregon's Military Department; the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association; the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police; Oregon State Sheriff's Association; the Oregon Association of Public Safety Communications Officials/ National Emergency Number Association; and other federal, state and local organizations.

Office of Gov. John Kitzhaber