Would States Benefit From Having a Statewide Coordinator Ensuring That Emergency Responders Have Interoperable Communications Equipment? (H.R. 2206)

What is H.R. 2206?

(Updated April 10, 2017)

This bill seeks to encourage states to acquire and provide to their emergency responders interoperable communications equipment — which improves communication between responders. It would do this by requiring states to include a certification in their application for State Homeland Security Grant Program funding that:

• The governor of the state has designated a Statewide Interoperability Coordinator;

• Indicating that the state is performing the functions of such a Coordinator in another manner and identifying the primary point of contact for performance of such functions.

The Statewide Interoperability Coordinator’s responsibilities would include:

• Overseeing the daily operations of the state’s interoperability efforts;

• Coordinating state interoperability and communications projects and related grant applications;

• Establishing and maintaining working groups to develop and implement key interoperability initiatives;

• Implementing and updating a Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan that specifies the current status of state efforts to enhance communications interoperability within the state. This would include future goals for communications interoperability among emergency response agencies in the state.

Argument in favor

This bill would gently nudge all states into starting the process of obtaining interoperable communications equipment for their first responders without micromanaging the process.

Argument opposed

States are perfectly capable of ensuring their first responders have interoperable communications equipment without the federal government mandating that they do so.

Impact

Emergency responders who would use the interoperable communications equipment, states implementing interoperability plans, and the Dept. of Homeland Security.

Cost of H.R. 2206

The CBO estimates that this bill would have no effect on the the federal budget.

Additional Info

In-Depth: In introducing his legislation, sponsoring Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) explained that:

“The inability of first responders to effectively communicate with one another during emergencies is a very real problem that undermines the safety of our communities. This legislation protects the gains made toward achieving interoperability and ensures emergency personnel are able to successfully coordinate activities that save lives.”

This bill was approved by the House Homeland Security Committee via voice vote.

• Sponsoring Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) Press Release
• House Homeland Security Committee Press Release
• CBO Cost Estimate
• FierceHomelandSecurity
• Homeland Security Today
• Department of Homeland Security (Context)
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration (Context)