Wisconsin Interoperable System for Communications
Improving Responder and Community Safety
During Disasters
WISCOM at a Glance
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Bolsters mutual-aid capacity which is currently inadequate for large-scale emergency response
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Initial build-out will provide 95% statewide mobile radio coverage using state-of-the-art VHF trunking technology
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Efficient use of existing infrastructure will save money now and in the future as local systems are updated
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Bridges the gap between local systems
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Has the support of the State Fire Chiefs, Chiefs of Police Association and the Badger State Sheriff's Association
Currently, most individual emergency response agencies can communicate with a few adjoining communities through the use of a small number of shared “mutual aid” channels. This method is adequate for most routine incidents, however, cannot meet the needs of larger-scale incidents. When a greater number of agencies are called to an emergency, radio volume increases, will overwhelm mutual- aid channels and responders will struggle to communicate with one another during a critical time.
With the Wisconsin Interoperable System for Communications (WISCOM), responders in communities across the state will be able to use a common statewide system to communicate during a large incident. The system can support up to three simultaneous conversation paths during an incident, triple the number currently available, and is expandable through additional enhancements.
WISCOM will allow responders from any area of the state to assist another community without loss of communications. Initial build-out of a WISCOM backbone that will provide 95% statewide coverage for mobile radios can be achieved using a $15.3 million one-time federal Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grant.
Why WISCOM?
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The system leverages existing antenna towers and other infrastructure, resulting in reduced initial cost.
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WISCOM will not use proprietary technology, making it flexible and open enough to work with the many different local systems currently operating in the state.
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Sharing a statewide infrastructure will result in long-term cost-savings for everyone. When updating local systems, communities can leverage the state backbone to sharing infrastructure costs and avoiding costly duplication of equipment and build out additional coverage capacity to meet their needs.
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WISCOM will be managed by a Statewide System Management Group comprised of 23 public safety executives from a variety of disciplines and levels of government. This governing body will ensure that it proceeds with local user input and meets the needs of the public safety community.
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WISCOM has received the support of the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association, Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, and the Badger State Sheriff's Association, each of which recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding authorizing the use of federal funds.
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