Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC)
The Massachusetts Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) reports directly to the Undersecretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and has several roles and responsibilities, such as:
- Overseeing interoperable communications for the Commonwealth through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, including agencies, such as:
- Massachusetts State Police (MSP)
- Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
- Department of Fire Services (DFS)
- And many municipal and regional emergency communication systems.
- Guiding the development of plans and programs that prioritize spending for interoperable and operable communications based not he State Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP) and associates state and federal mandates;
- Providing senior leadership in the planning and implementation of the National Public Safety Broadband Network, known as FirstNet, and representing the Commonwealth in regional and national planning sessions;
- Representing the Commonwealth on a national level through the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators;
- Serving as a member of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security leadership team, which includes:
- Representing the Secretary on the Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee
- Providing oversight of the Massachusetts Communications Unit (MA-COMU), and;
- Serving as a designated emergency responder with the expectation of responding to and providing leadership during states of emergency, public safety events, and other situations.
- Overseeing all statewide interoperable communications planning, deployment, maintenance, and emerging technologies and services.
State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC)
Governor's Executive Order 493 was issued in 2007 therefore establishing the State Interoperability Executive Commitee (SIEC) in order to address the challenges facing interdisciplinary communications planning and implementation capacity of the Commonwealth.
The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) is designated as the State Administrative Agency (SAA) for any and all federal grants applied to attaining statewide interoperability and the objectives of the State Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP), including, but not limited to, the Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program. The Governor may, at any time and for any reason, change this designation by letter or other form. This designation does not affect any previous designation made by the Governor in regard to any other federal grant programs.
The SAA has the final authority on behalf of the Commonwealth with regard to all requests, awards, and expenditures of federal funds made in support of interoperability efforts and is tasked with ensuring proper disbursement of and accounting of federal interoperability funds for the Commonwealth in accordance with federal grand guidance and program standards.
Committee Membership
The Secretary of Public Safety and Security, or their designee, is tasked with chairing the committee. Additionally, the committee consists of:
- The Secretary of Transportation and Public Works
- the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs
- the Commissioner of Public Health
- the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- the Executive Director of the Criminal History Systems Board
- the Executive Director of the Statewide Emergency Telecommunications Board
- the Director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
- the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard
- the Director of the Massachusetts Office of Business Development
- the chairs of
- the Western Massachusetts Homeland Security Council
- the Central Massachusetts Homeland Security Council
- the Northeastern Massachusetts Homeland Security Council
- thee Southeast Massachusetts Homeland Security Council
- the Metro Boston Homeland Security Region (Urban Area Security Initiative)
- the Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police
- the State Fire Marshal
- and no more than 12 members to be appointed by the Governor, including at least 1 representative from each of the following organizations or disciplines:
- the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association
- the Massachusetts Fire Chiefs Association
- the Massachusetts Municipal Association
- local emergency service providers
- local health officials
- local transportation agencies
- local emergency management agencies
- public safety dispatch communications
- non-governmental charitable organizations
- state legislators
- tribal government
- relevant federal agencies, and
- any such other persons as the Governor may, from time to time, appoint.
All committee members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor and without compensation.
Committee Responsibilities
The State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) advises the State Administrative Agency (SAA) on priorities and approval of all interoperability expenditures and requests for expenditure of federal funds. In carrying out these responsibilities, consistent with the goals and objectives of the State Homeland Security Strategy, the SIEC is tasked with:
- Issuing objectives and goals;
- Providing guidance for the development of standard operating procedures and best practices when implementing interoperable communication statewide; and
- Giving other advice when necessary to achieve statewide interoperability and objectives of the State Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP) through the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC).
The operations of the SIEC are in accordance with a charter, approved by the SIEC and updated annually, setting forth the roles and responsibilities of SIEC members, its governance structure, and its policies and procedures.
The SIEC is entitled to cooperation of every department, agency, and office of the Commonwealth in furtherance of its functions.