Coalition addresses statewide interoperability plan

"The cooperation across the state is just fantastic," said Pete Collins (right), City of Austin Chief Information Officer and Chair of the Texas Radio Coalition after the meeting. The group now is compiling the results and from the strategy meetings will assist with the update of the strategic plan that will accompany the grant application that will go to DHS. Those documents will be reviewed by Steve McCraw, Texas' Director of Homeland Security.

Collins said that just because $65 million is "available" for grant funding for Texas does not necessarily mean the state will get that much. "That's the maximum allocation," he said. How much the federal government will grant the state will be based on the grant application and strategy plan. "We have to tell them how we plan to do it - and it must be doable."

Those attending the coalition meeting were not only from law enforcement, but also included others involved in radio communications across the state - county elected officials, radio directors, representatives of various councils of government (COGs), fire and EMS officials and others.

"We're all working toward one goal," said Collins, "and that's radio interoperability across the entire state."

Collins noted that a seven-year joint project between the city and Travis County has led to a high level of radio interoperability between the two, and a $6 million grant in 2005 is being used to extend that regional system to public safety entities in nearby Williamson County.

"In a post 9-11 environment, we have learned that all public safety and critical infrastructure responders must be provided the highest level of real-time direct interoperable communications capability," said Collins.