Communications

Every day in cities and towns across the Nation, emergency response personnel respond to incidents of varying scope and magnitude. Their ability to communicate in real time is critical to establishing command and control at the scene of an emergency, to maintaining event situational awareness, and to operating overall within a broad range of incidents. However, as numerous after-action reports and national assessments have revealed, there are still communications deficiencies that affect the ability of responders to manage routine incidents and support responses to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other incidents.

NMDHSEM is wholly committed to achieving the highest level of statewide interoperability attainable for NM emergency responders. By promoting input from all facets of the user community, New Mexico can be assured its interoperable communications mission is focused on the needs of those who will benefit the most from an effective, cross disciplinary communications network: the public safety employees who work tirelessly to protect the people of New Mexico from harm and ultimately, the people of New Mexico who will be assured of a coordinated, cohesive response in their time of need.Communications Preparedness Council (IPC)At the encouragement of the New Mexico public safety community, the New Mexico Legislature recognized a need for comprehensive and coordinated statewide interoperable communications network and established the Emergency Communications Interoperability act (SB 173-2009) signed April 6, 2009, further creating the Interoperable Communications Planning Commission (IPC). The IPC is responsible for providing policy level direction related to planning, designing, and implementing guidelines, best practices, and standard approaches to address New Mexico’s public safety communications interoperability issues. The IPC is comprised of representatives appointed by the Governor from various public safety agencies, professional associations, and State departments.