Essential Operations Form
Essential System Operations Guidelines
The Palmetto 800 Statewide System is one of the largest most interoperable trunked radio systems in the country. The system exceeds 18,000 system users representing over 175 different public safety and power utility agencies. On any typical day only a small percentage of the 18,000 plus users are on the system at any given time. When a disaster occurs additional off duty resources are called up and sent to the disaster area adding increased radio system loading in the disaster area.
The Essential Operations Plans are implemented and designed to help your agency and the system manage communications resources when the system becomes strained do to increased activity or disasters. The key goal is to insure that essential operations Law Enforcement, Fire and EMS services have priority access to the system by reducing the number of talkgroups an agency normally utilizes (consolidating) and eliminating non-emergency admin type radio traffic. All Palmetto 800 system users with 2 or more talkgroups are required to submit an Essential Operations Plan and keep it current on an annual basis. Motorola and the Palmetto 800 staff will provide you with any assistance you need in developing your plan.
As part of your planning process we encourage you to develop a plan that includes utilizing conventional and tactical 800 frequencies to reduce loading on the trunked system during a disaster. A little bit of communications pre-planning on your part will go a long way in eliminating confusion and enhancing your agencies communications performance during a disaster.
Example:
During a normal day your agency may utilize (5) different talkgroups and have 50 officers on a shift: (1) for primary dispatch, (1) for records checks, (1) for detectives, (1) for special operations and (1) for administration.
During a disaster your agency may have 100 officers on the street and an additional 25 to 75 officers from State, Federal or other agencies assisting (fire EMS, DHEC, etc.). If radio traffic continues as a normal day the potential may exist for the trunked system to become overloaded. Instead of utilizing (5) different talkgroups your Essential Operations Plan would reduce your talkgroup usage to (2) or (3) talkgroups for example;
(1) for primary dispatch operations
(1) for operations at the disaster scene
(1) conventional 800 MHz repeater channel tactical operations at the scene
If you have questions or need assistance in developing you Essential Operations Plan, please do not hesitate to contact the Palmetto 800 staff (1-800-353-0101) or DSIT.
Essential 800 MHz System Operations Plan
Agency: _____________________________________________________
Communications
Coordinator: _______________________________________________
Office #: ____________________________________________________
Cell #: ___________________________________________________
Pager #: ___________________________________________________
Fax #: ___________________________________________________
E-mail: ___________________________________________________
Normal Operations:
Number of 800 MHz Radios in Use: _________________
Number of Talkgroups in Use: _________________
Priority of Talkgroups:
Number of High Priority: __________________
Number of Medium Priority: __________________
Number of Low Priority: __________________
Number of Roaming Talkgroups: _________________
Priority of Roaming Talkgroups: _________________
Number of Regionalized Talkgroups: __________________
Number of Tactical/Conventional Frequencies: __________________
Number of Ric Switches: __________________
This information should be updated annually or anytime contact information changes. All information should be forwarded to Palmetto 800.
Essential System Operations Plan
Number of Talkgroups to be Used: __________________
List: 1. _____________ ID#: ______________ Priority: ____________
List: 2. _____________ ID#: ______________ Priority: ____________
List: 3. _____________ ID#: ______________ Priority: ____________
List: 4. _____________ ID#: ______________ Priority: ____________
List: 5. _____________ ID#: ______________ Priority: ____________
List: 6. _____________ ID#: ______________ Priority: ____________
Priority of Talkgroups:
Number of High Priority: __________________
Number of Medium Priority: __________________
Number of Roaming Talkgroups to be Used: __________________
List: 1. _____________ ID#: ______________ Priority: ____________
List: 2. _____________ ID#: ______________ Priority: ____________
Number of Regionalized Talkgroups to be Used: __________________
List: 1. _____________ ID#: _____________ Priority: ___________
List: 2. _____________ ID#: _____________ Priority: ____________
List: 3. _____________ ID#: _____________ Priority: ____________
List: 4. _____________ ID#: _____________ Priority: ____________
List: 5. _____________ ID#: _____________ Priority: ____________
List: 6. _____________ ID#: _____________ Priority: ____________
Number of Tactical/Conventional Frequencies to be Used: _____________
List: 1. _____________
List: 2. _____________
List: 3. _____________
List: 4. _____________
Mutual Aid Agencies Are to Utilize Talkgroups/Conventional Frequencies:
Talkgroup List: 1. _____________ ID#: ______________
2. _____________ ID#: ______________
3. _____________ ID#: ______________
4. _____________ ID#: ______________
Tactical Conventional Frequencies:
1. _____________
2. _____________
3. _____________
Talkgroup Guidelines:
A - Normal operations:
1 - Talkgroups - 1 talkgroup per 25 radios
2 - Priority - 1/3 high, 1/3 medium, 1/3 low
3 - Roaming - all roaming talkgroups low priority
4 - Private Call - low priority
5 - Interconnect - low priority
B - Storm operations:
1 - Talkgroups - 1 talkgroup per 50 radios
2 - Priority - 50% high, 50% medium
3 - Roaming - all roaming talkgroups low priority
4 - Private Call - removed systemwide, if necessary
5 - Interconnect - removed from sites due to increased traffic
6 - Regionalization - tactical talkgroups available only at 1 or 2 sites
within a county or region
7 - Conventional frequencies - ITAC and SCTAC frequencies are
available for use in tactial operations,
i.e., fireground ops.