5.1 In situations in which the coordination of EMSS communications among political subdivisions affects the health and safety of the state’s population, it is appropriate for state government to take a coordinating role. Statewide planning for coordinated use of radio frequencies for EMSS communications is specifically needed.

5.2 The state is the logical unit to formulate the statutory and regulatory framework for EMSS planning. State planning for area-wide EMSS communications provides authority to accomplish coordination in the use of available radio frequencies, thus promoting multiagency cooperation to best serve the public needs.

5.3 With statewide planning, communities, counties, and multicounty EMSS regions are provided with guidance to achieve the performance goals and objectives of their EMSS communications systems.

5.4 The statewide EMSS communications performance goals and objectives in Sections 10 – 15 address specific roles of state governments in EMSS communications systems planning. These performance goals and objectives should be considered by states for evaluating, planning, and implementing of acceptable EMSS communications statewide.

1.1 This guide covers telecommunications practices and performance standards required to support all of the functions of community EMSS on a statewide basis. It defines state planning goals and objectives for EMSS communications.

1.2 This guide is for planning, coordinating, integrating, and evaluating telecommunications resources statewide to satisfy the functional needs of comprehensive community EMSS systems.

1.3 To facilitate a two-tiered planning approach recommended for EMSS communications, this guide identifies those communications system features that should be coordinated on a statewide basis and defined in statewide (first tier) EMSS communications planning guidelines. Local (second tier) EMSS communications plans prepared in accordance with the statewide guidelines should then be tailored to satisfy local EMSS needs while providing compatibility and interoperability of communications with other EMSS.

1.4 The sections in this guide appear in the following sequence:

Section

Scope

1

Referenced Documents

2

Terminology

3

Summary of Guide

4

Significance and Use

5

Functions and Categories of EMSS Communications

6

 Telecommunications Functions

6.1

 Telecommunications Categories

6.2

EMSS Functional Communications Requirements

7

 General Information

7.1

 Citizen Access

7.2

 EMSS Vehicle Dispatch and Coordination

7.3

 Medical Coordination/Direction

7.4

 Interservice Communications

7.5

Radio Frequency Spectrum and Service Requirements

8

 Radio Frequencies

8.1

 EMSS Radio Service Coverage

8.2

 Operational Considerations

8.3

Goals and Objectives for EMSS Communications

9

Goal 1—State EMSS Communication Should Meet Recognized Standards for Functional Performance

10

Goal 2—Local EMSS Communications Should Be Compatible with, and Should Not Interfere with, EMSS Communications in Neighboring Area

11

Goal 3—Local EMSS Communications Systems Should Be Compatible with, and Should Not Interfere with, Other Types of Communications Systems

12

Goal 4—EMSS Communications Systems Should Make Maximum Use of State and Common Resources Where Appropriate, Cost Effective, and Authorized

13

Goal 5—The State Should Act as the Representative of Local EMSS in Dealing with Federal Agencies and National Organizations

14

Goal 6—The State Should Have a Program for Positive Management of Its EMSS Communications Activities

15

Emergency Medical Radio Services (EMRS) Radio Frequencies (MHz)

Appendix X1

Acronyms and Glossary for EMSS Communications

Appendix X2

References

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.