Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Based on recommendations from the public safety community, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) included an objective in the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) requesting each state and territory to identify a central coordination point for interoperable emergency communications efforts. With full-time resources dedicated to coordinating statewide emergency communications, most States have chosen a Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) to fill this role.

Interoperability is the ability for emergency responders to communicate among jurisdictions, disciplines, and levels of government, using a variety of frequency bands as needed and as authorized. Emergency responders often find it difficult to communicate with their own agencies, let alone with agencies in neighboring states, counties, or cities. Thus, the SWIC is essential in promoting and advancing interoperability statewide by fulfilling roles enumerated below.

SWICs assist with the implementation of the NECP and Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans (SCIPs). SCIPs are locally driven, multi-jurisdictional, and multidisciplinary statewide plans created to provide strategic direction to those responsible for interoperable communications at the state, territorial, regional, local, and tribal levels. SWICs dedicate considerable time to educating the public safety community on their SCIP.

SWICs also assist with establishing a Statewide Interoperability Governing Body (SIGB), or other formalized, statewide governance systems. As SCIP implementation proceeds, SWICs coordinate closely with statewide governance entities by seeking guidance and recommendations from the joint efforts of governance members, state agencies, and regional entities. Statewide governance bodies provide a unified approach across disciplines and jurisdictions that support funding, informed and effective decision making, and communications interoperability.

SWICs serve as members of the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC), a national governance body established to assist state and territory interoperability coordinators with promoting the critical importance of interoperable communications and best practices within their states and nationally. In this key role, the SWIC contributes to the development of standard operating procedures; voice and data technologies; training, exercises, and outreach and education materials; and federal emergency communications policies, plans, and services. This coordinated effort greatly enhances response capabilities by developing collaborative interoperable communications strategies at all levels of government.

The SWIC’s role is also one of high-level program management that may involve the following related to public safety communications interoperability: developing reports and briefings, coordinating projects, assembling working groups to develop recommendations and programmatic implementation, overseeing publications, working with legislators and Governor’s offices on interoperable communications issues, and building relationships with others involved in state interoperability efforts.