Hands-on Interoperability

Interoperability

For the third year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of Public Safety Radio Services (OPRS) in the Governor’s Office of Administration is proud to present the Pennsylvania Statewide Interoperability Conference, PA Interop III, in partnership with Penn State. The conference is a statewide forum for public safety and emergency communications cooperation, discussion, promotion, and planning.

Previous conferences have been instrumental in developing Pennsylvania’s Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP) and initiating the portfolio of projects for the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program. The SCIP and the PSIC portfolio build on the role of the Pennsylvania Statewide Radio Network (PA-STARNet) as the backbone for interoperable public safety communications across the Commonwealth and pave the way for further federal grant programs and initiatives.

The conference theme this year is Hands-on Interoperability, reflecting a turn to practical application of the plans and theoretical discussions of the first two years. The central event is a functional communications exercise on the first day growing out of a tabletop exercise conducted during the summer that featured a disaster scenario at a popular area music festival. The conference also features a full slate of classroom sessions as well as technology exhibits and a gallery of vendor displays.

Facilities and Planning

The conference site is The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College, operated by Penn State. The Penn Stater is a premier event facility with full-featured meeting rooms, food service, and hotel accommodations. Penn State Outreach Conferences is the Commonwealth’s partner in planning and administering the conference. Penn State also assists with program design, conducts sessions featuring University programs and research pertinent to conference themes and objectives, and reviews and certifies the program for academic and educational content.

Key Objectives

Following are the principal objectives for the Pennsylvania Statewide Interoperability Conference:

  • Development and promotion of a common vision of interoperable communications in Pennsylvania
  • Understanding of PA‑STARNet capabilities and role in achieving interoperable communications
  • Awareness and understanding of key technology for interoperable communications using PA‑STARNet
  • Promotion of the development and refinement of a body of common policies and standard operating procedures for the effective use of interoperable communications
  • Understanding of key interoperability policies and practices such as the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS)
  • Evaluation, discussion, and improvement of interoperability methods and policies through communications exercise outcomes and other measures
  • Understanding of best practices for securing and administering grant funding for establishing and expanding interoperable communications capabilities
  • Continued clarification of county and local interoperability requirements and of the role of commonwealth government in achieving interoperable public safety communications

Audience

Conference participants are county and municipal public safety and emergency communications managers, and commonwealth officials and agency representatives, along with technology suppliers, federal officials, and PA‑STARNet business partners.

hosted by the Office of Public Safety Radio Services