The Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications recently announced the release of the first updated National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) since the original publication in 2008.  According to the Department,

The 2014 NECP provides information and guidance to those that plan, coordinate, invest in, manage and use emergency communications systems.  The Office of Emergency Communications worked closely with more than 350 people from Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions, and the private sector to update the NECP to address emergency communications challenges in the 21st century.  To address the rapidly evolving emergency communications landscape, the NECP emphasizes the need to enhance and update the policies, governance structures, plans, and protocols that enable responders to communicate and share information under all circumstances.  As a stakeholder-driven plan, the NECP aims to maximize the use of all communications capabilities available to emergency responders – voice, video, and data – and to ensure the security of data and information exchange.

For additional information on the 2014 NECP, please refer to: http://www.dhs.gov/necp.

This past Spring, Maryland’s Governor signed HB 308 / SB 338, creating a joint governance body for Maryland’s Statewide Public Safety Radio System, MD FiRST.  The law was the result of MACo’s 2014 legislative initiative and the governance body will include five representatives of local governments that use the MD FiRST system.  For more information on Maryland FiRST and the Radio Control Board, see our previous posts, From We to One: Radio Control Board Holds First Meeting, Governor Signs MACo’s Public Safety Radio Bill Into Law and Counties and State Mark Progress on Statewide Radio System with Ceremonial “Second Call”.