LARTCS NEWSLETTER

We Work Together, Let’s Talk Together

 VOICE INTEROPERABILITY

The role of public safety first-responders is constantly changing and the demands on our personnel are becoming more diverse and complex. The absence of communications interoperability between agencies is directly related to the older, highly proprietary technology utilized in our existing communication systems and the mutually exclusive frequencies used by various agencies. Lack of funding and unavailability of appropriate spectrum prevented the development of large scale, fully interoperable, public safety communications systems.

Most public safety agencies are required to utilize their legacy systems up to a decade past the design life cycle.   Notwithstanding these difficulties, the communities we serve and the duties we perform demand that our first-line responders have the ability to communicate across many different communication platforms and jurisdictional lines.  A lack of interoperability within the region can be detrimental to any coordinated response to emergencies, whether large scale or routine in nature

The Los Angeles Regional Tactical Communications System (LARTCS) Committee is a consortium of local, state, and federal public safety entities with the common goal of establishing interoperable public safety communications. LARTCS tactical communications is managed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department as the lead agency for the program.

The LARTCS mission statement reads: To enhance the safety of the citizens of Southern California by providing the highest degree of operational communications interoperability among the public safety agencies of Los Angeles County and the five adjacent counties and to do so in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible.

The LARTCS provides interim radio interoperability for Public Safety Agencies until a permanent solution can be funded and implemented. The system is free to users and provides voice interoperability among 60+ Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement and 35 Fire Departments. The LARTCS enhances interoperability with surrounding Counties and has the flexibility to add nearly any agency regardless of equipment platform, frequencies, or communications protocol. This allows participating agencies to utilize their existing equipment to access the system.

The system was constructed using existing infrastructures and implementing new patching technology thereby minimizing costs. This project was so successful that it is considered a model for the nation by the Department of Homeland Security. Responding units can be fully informed by the unit requesting assistance and not blindly enter a potentially dangerous situation. Complete cooperation can be achieved in the event of any disaster and, with the touch of a button, agencies can be connected countywide.  Such capabilities increase officer safety and make it possible to provide communities the service they desire and deserve.