Overview

The purpose of the Mutual Aid Plan is to establish a seamless wireless voice communications infrastructure that will enhance the Commonwealth’s ability to deliver effective and timely emergency services to its citizens and avoid the creation of separate disparate non-interoperable wireless data communication networks.

Mutual Aid Interoperability Plan (Word File - 304KB)

Mutual Aid Interoperability for Public Safety First Responders (PowerPoint Presentation File - 18793KB)

Mutual Aid and Interoperability - FAQ (PDF File - 113KB)

Mutual Aid and Interoperability - Memorandum of Understanding (PDF File - 1 MB)

Authorized users and signatories to the MOU  (pdf- 113K)

Public Safety radio communications evolved from the 1950s through the 1990s.  During the 1950s, the 150 MHz Frequency Band was widely used by public safety agencies as an effective means of voice communications in order to manage emergencies effectively.  As more agencies began using radio communications, the frequencies available in the 150 MHz became depleted causing the FCC to allocated more frequencies in the 450 MHz Frequency Band and then to the 800 MHz Frequency Band. 

Public Safety Agencies across the Commonwealth primarily operate in three (3) frequency bands; 150, 450, and 800 MHz.  Most radios do not have the capability to operate on different frequency bands.  This has proven to be extremely problematic when public safety first responders are called to communicate with each other in order to manage emergencies effectively including natural disasters like flooding, forest fires, tornados, or terrorist attacks respond to emergency situations. 

To implement a standards-compliant architecture designed to provide wireless voice communications for pubic safety first responders to use in a Mutual Aid - Disaster Response / Coordination situation.

Since most radios do not have the capability to operate on different frequency bands, three (3) Mutual Aid plans were proposed to cover each of the 150, 450, and 800 MHz frequency bands.

1. The 150 MHz Band requires combining the radio communications equipment from KLEEN and Inner City and assigning a new public safety mutual aid frequency.  Redundant coverage propagation would be relocated to other areas of the state to shore up coverage in those parts of the Commonwealth, thus turning two mediocre coverage systems into a single system with “good” statewide coverage.
2. The 450 MHz Band requires the expansion of participation from public safety agencies to use the public safety mutual aid channel maintained and operated by the KSP which provides “excellent” statewide coverage.
3. The 800 MHz Band requires the awareness of the existence of NPSPAC Mutual Aid channels for public safety to use and only Talk-Around Mode is available to use since the Commonwealth does not have any base stations operating on this channel. 

A fourth Mutual Aid plan was added to cover communications interoperability between users in the 150 and 450 MHz frequency bands by leveraging the KSP’s existing ‘patch’ technologies.

The Mutual Aid Communications Interoperability Plan adds a new dimension to our effectiveness and efficiency to improve all aspects of Emergency Management in protecting our citizens and our first responder.  The 450 and 800 MHz Frequency Mutual Aid plans require no capital outlay and require minimal coordination efforts to implement.  The 150 MHz Frequency Mutual Aid plan requires the combining of existing radio communications infrastructure, reprogramming of radios and base stations, coordination of participants, and a small capital outlay.  However, the synergy realized from this plan benefits the Commonwealth because it takes two separate infrastructures with mediocre coverage into a single infrastructure with “good” statewide coverage.  An additional fourth plan connects mutual aid users in the 150 and 450 MHz by using existing ‘patch’ technologies by the KSP.

To request inclusion into this program, please email the following individual –  derek.nesselrode@ky.gov

Also please return all Mutual Aid Memorandum of Agreements to:
Kentucky State Police
Commander-Communications Branch
1240 Airport Road
Frankfort, KY 40601

The recent decision by the FCC on rebanding the 800 MHz spectrum will require the Mutual Aid frequencies in the 800 MHz band to change.  The FCC memorandums and Mutual Aid rebanding guidance is included below.

The Mutual Aid and Interoperability MOU ITAC frequencies will change as a result of this decision.  The 800Mhz users in the commonwealth participating in the Mutual Aid program will be required to change their ITAC frequencies in the near future. 

Kentucky State Police Memo (word -85K)

FCC Memorandum Opinion and Order (pdf -175K)

FCC Public Notice 800 MHZ Band Reconfiguration (pdf -105K)