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Overview

������ɫ public safety departments operate on two-radios for day-to-day and emergency situations.  NYSUP, OEM, EH&S and Harpur’s Ferry all operate on Broome County’s P25 public safety radio system.  Most policy issues associated with this system are managed by Broome Counties Office of Emergency Services (OES).  Individual agencies / departments establish their own rules for who is allowed to monitor / transmit on their assigned frequencies.

Harpur's Ferry Student Volunteer Ambulance Service (HFSVAS) maintains a legacy UHF radio frequency for the purpose of paging (toning) its members to notify them of calls-for-service.

Radio Frequencies

The Broome County P25 public safety radio system operates two-way radio frequencies on the ultra-high (UHF) radio band.  The system is digital and trunked.

SUNY Dispatch – Frequency Patches

������ɫ emergency services dispatchers are capable of establishing “patches” between frequencies in the UHF and VHF bandwidths.  To establish a patch, SUNY Dispatch must be contacted and the patch must be requested.  When the patch is no longer required, SUNY Dispatch must be immediately notified and the patch will be disabled.

Use of Radio Channels

Use of university radio frequencies shall be for the sole purpose of official university business and shall follow all appropriate FCC guidelines and policies.

Radios with the ability to transmit on a NYSUP or HFSVAS frequency shall be limited to departments/agencies approved by the chief of that department/agency.

Radio Protocol

• Every effort shall be made to limit radio traffic on all radio frequencies.  Only essential communications shall be made over the airwaves.
• Think before you transmit.  Know what you want to say.  Say it, and get off the air.  Speak distinctly; be brief & concise and do not mumble.
• If possible, have face-to-face communication
• Plain language terminology shall be used.  10-Codes or other coded systems shall not be utilized.
• Keep your radio turned down to a level that allows you to hear the transmission, but not so loud that everyone around you can hear the transmission. This is for security reasons as well as common courtesy.
• Prior to transmitting a radio message, depress the push-to-talk button and wait approximately two seconds. This will ensure your message is not accidentally ‘cut-off’.  Hold the microphone portion of the radio approximately one inch from your lips and speak slowly and clearly in a normal to loud voice.  Do not hold the microphone directly in front of your mouth, but slightly to the side, and at an angle of about 45 degrees so you talk across the face of the microphone instead of "blowing" into it.
• Do not shout or yell into the microphone; it will cause an extremely distorted signal.
• When hailing someone, identify yourself first and then identify the person whom you are calling.  Example: “Command to EMS Director” or “Safety to Hazmat”.
• When answering a hail, identify yourself and acknowledge the caller.  Example: “Planning on.  Go ahead Operations” or “Strike Team Leader on.  Go ahead Strike Team 2”.
• When communicating essential information, have the information repeated back from the person receiving the information to the person sending the information.  This allows the information to be confirmed and minimizes the potential for misunderstanding the message.
• Never use obscene language on the radio. Remember that our transmissions are monitored by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

National Incident Management System (NIMS):

During emergency incidents and large planned events, a significant number of radios and radio frequencies may be utilized to manage the incident.

Personnel will be assigned frequencies they are allowed to operate on during this event and will be expected to refrain from using any other frequencies.  NIMS form ICS-205 shall be used to document and track the frequencies assigned during the incident.

The following call-signals shall be used for all radio communications during emergency incidents and large planned events:

Command / General Staff

COMMAND                                              Incident Commander

SAFETY                                                    Safety Officer

PIO                                                            Public Information Officer

LIAISON                                                   Liaison Officer

OPS or OPERATIONS                               Operations Chief

PLANNING                                               Planning Chief

LOGISTICS                                               Logistics Chief

Group / Unit Leaders

POLICE SUPERVISOR                              Police Group Supervisor

EMS SUPERVISOR                                   Emergency Medical System Group Supervisor

FIRE SUPERVISOR                                   Fire Group Supervisor

FACILITIES SUPERVISOR                       Physical Facilities Group Supervisor

TRAFFIC UNIT LEADER                          Parking Services / Traffic Unit Leader

FIRE

CODE                                                        Code Compliance Unit Leader

HAZMAT                                                  Hazmat Unit Leader

VESTAL FIRE                                           Vestal Fire Department Unit Leader

EMS

TREATMENT                                            EMS Treatment Unit Leader

TRIAGE                                                    EMS Triage Unit Leader

EMS SAFETY                                            EMS Safety Officer

EMS STAGING                                         EMS Staging Unit Leader

TRANSPORT                                            EMS Transport Unit Leader

HOSPITAL LIAISON                                Hospital Liaison

STRIKE TEAM LEADER                          Strike Team Unit Leader

STRIKE TEAM 1                                       BLS Two-person team – Geographic region 1

STRIKE TEAM 2                                       BLS Two-person team – Geographic region 1

STRIKE TEAM 3                                       BLS Two-person team – Geographic region 1

STRIKE TEAM 4                                       BLS Two-person team – Geographic region 1

EXTRICATION STRIKE TEAM 5             BLS Two-person team – Geographic region 1

STRIKE TEAM ALPHA                             BLS Two-person team – Geographic region 2

STRIKE TEAM BRAVO                            BLS Two-person team – Geographic region 2

EXTRICATION STRIKE TEAM CHARLIE      BLS Two-person team – Geographic region 2

GATOR TEAM X-RAY                             BLS Two-person team – Geographic region 2

GATOR TEAM ZEBRA                             BLS Two-person team  – Geographic region 2

Facilities (examples)

MAINTENANCE                                       Maintenance Unit Leader

SHUTTLE LEADER                                  Shuttle Bus Unit Leader

EVENTS CENTER                                     Events Center Mgt. Staff Unit Leader

WEST GYM                                              West Gym Building Staff Unit Leader

Interoperability Equipment

Swap Radio

Broome County Office of Emergency Services maintains a cache of portable radios that may be utilized for emergency incidents and planned events.

Shared Channel

The Broome County P25 public safety radio system includes multiple shared channels capable of being requested by the users or assigned by 911 dispatchers. 

Policies & Procedures for Interoperable Equipment

Swap Radios

Technology Overview

Broome County Office of Emergency Services maintains a cache of portable radios capable of being utilized for emergency incidents and planned events.  

Rules of Use

The Broome County Swap Radios are maintained by the Broome County Office of Emergency Services.  Once the radios have been delivered to any other agency that agency becomes responsible for the radios and any related equipment (i.e. chargers, batteries, etc.).  A signature from a person authorized to assume responsibility for the radios is required before the radios can be transferred.

Interoperable Communications Request

The Broome County Swap Radios may be requested for use at emergency incidents or planned events.

Emergency Incidents:

To request Swap Radios for an emergency incident, the incident commander shall contact Broome County OES and formally request the equipment.

Planned Events:

To request Swap Radios for a planned event, a senior official for the event must contact Broome County OES.  The request will be evaluated and the availability of the radios will be determined within a reasonable amount of time.

Problem ID and Resolution

All problems / difficulties experienced with the Swap Radios shall be immediately reported to a Broome County OES.  The details of the problem shall be provided to OES in writing, or verbally when circumstances prevent the timely submission of a written report.

Plans for Tactical Communications During an Incident

Participating Functional Disciplines

Tactical / emergency operations shall take priority above planned or non-emergency events.  If interoperable equipment has been distributed and an emergency arises where the equipment is necessary, every effort shall be made to make the equipment available for the emergency operation.

Plan for Tactical Use of Interoperability Resources

Interoperable resources shall be used and managed within the structure of the National Incident Management System (NIMS).  Form ICS-205 (INCIDENT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS PLAN) shall be used to manage these resources.  The ICS form shall document the following items:

Incident Command

Detail what method or specific interoperability resources will be used for communication among the Incident Command Staff and with other Sections General Staff.

Operations Section

Detail what method or specific interoperability resources will be used for communication within the Operations Staff and with other Sections Operations Staff.

Planning Section

Detail what method or specific interoperability resources will be used for communication within the Planning Section and with other Sections.

Logistics Section

Detail what method or specific interoperability resources will be used for communication within the Logistics Section and with other Sections.

Finance Section

Maintenance of detailed equipment and personnel activities and expenditures is critical for disaster reimbursement. If there is a communications requirement for this Section, detail what method or specific interoperability resources will be used for communication within the Finance Section and with other Sections.

NIMS Training

All incidents requesting the use of interoperable radios shall follow the National Incident Management System (NIMS).  Communications unit leaders, equipment radio operators, and other appropriate personnel shall meet all training and operational requirements set forth by NIMS.