Florida Counties Talk on Interoperable Network During Emergency

The state of Florida's new Interoperability (IO) Network successfully assisted first responders in rapidly responding to a fire in Putnam County on January 25, 2005

During the first unplanned use of the IO network, fire-rescue stations from Putnam County were dispatched to a residential fire and explosion in the western region of the county. Realizing the need for mutual aid, Putnam County Fire Rescue needed to contact Alachua County immediately.

The two counties operate on different radio frequency bands, with Putnam County utilizing a legacy VHF system and Alachua County operating on an 800 MHz system. The Melrose Volunteer Fire Department, however, was able to request an IO network connection, allowing all apparatus assigned to the incident to communicate directly with each other. Combined 911 Communications Centers operated by the Sheriff's Offices in Alachua and Putnam counties each used the IO network to establish a connection to their respective tactical channels and then to patch them together through the network.

"This system is a huge step for Florida's security and response efforts," State Chief Information Officer Simone Marstiller said, "By connecting disparate users and allowing them to communicate in ways not possible before, our IO system strengthens Florida's security, ensuring that all citizens are protected."

Announced in December 2004, the contract between the State Technology Office (STO) and Motorola establishes the IO network to enable public safety first responders such as fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical services agencies using different radio systems and frequency bands throughout the state, to communicate with each other. Jacksonville utilized the network for radio communications during the Super Bowl last weekend. The STO anticipates that Florida counties throughout the state will be connected to the system by the end of 2005.

The contract with Motorola will provide equipment to service over 200 local public safety dispatch centers located in all of Florida's 67 counties. By leveraging existing state resources, this system will network the existing radio systems and dispatch centers, utilizing the state's Intranet, existing telecommunications providers, and existing facilities.