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The Illinois Radio
Emergency Assistance Channel (IREACH) was originally conceived and proposed
within the confines of the Illinois Chapter of the Association of Public Safety
Communications Officials (APCO). Conceptually, the channel was to be used as a
support mechanism for 9-1-1 systems so that public safety answering points would
have multi-jurisdictional and multi-discipline communications for emergency
situations. The Illinois APCO chapter worked diligently to persuade the Federal
Communications Commission to set aside the frequency 155.055 MHz for the purpose
that was to be designated as the Illinois Radio Emergency Assistance Channel
(IREACH).
In 1982, an independent Governing Board was
established with the leadership of APCO to act as an advisory organization for
licensing, operational policy, and enforcement of issues as they pertain to the
IREACH frequency. The Governing Board was carefully selected to be both
inter-jurisdictional and inter-disciplinary in order that all potential users
would be represented in the Governing Board process.
The IREACH Governing Board has worked hard to
establish the following policies that pertain to the state-wide IREACH network.
Since there are a large number of potential users, the Governing Board
recognized that a strict policy regarding both licensing of base stations and
the proper operation of the network would be essential to its success.
Accordingly, the IREACH Governing Board, with the support of APCO, asks that
each user carefully read and understand the following pages. The success of this
program, as well as the quality of the system, depends upon informed licensees
and users. But perhaps more importantly, the safety of the individual users and
the citizens of Illinois has a definable relationship to the quality of the
IREACH program.
- The IREACH Governing Board
DEFINITIONS
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APCO Association of Public-Safety Communications
Officials, Inc.
Board The Governing Board of the Illinois Radio
Emergency Assistance Channel
FCC Federal Communications Commission
IREACH Illinois Radio Emergency Assistance
Channel (155.055 MHz)
ISPERN Illinois State Police Emergency Radio
Network (155.475 MHz)
Public Safety Agency An officially organized law
enforcement, emergency medical, fire protection, forestry, conservation, highway
maintenance, public works, EMS, EMA/ESDA and disaster response unit of state or
local government or a legally constituted private entity so engaged.
INTRODUCTION
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The IREACH Channel (155.055 MHz) has been set
aside by the Federal Communications Commission for the use of Illinois Public
Safety Agencies as a means of communications between public safety agencies when
no other direct means of communications are available.
Although IREACH is principally a mobile-to-mobile
channel, a base station license may be granted to any public safety agency that
meets the requirements specified under the paragraph entitled: "Base
Station Licensing Guidelines Statement."
PURPOSE OF IREACH
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The purpose of IREACH is to allow any public
safety employee to talk to any other public safety employee via radio provided
the radio traffic relates to their official duties and the protection of life
and/or property. For example, to permit a fire fighter to have direct radio
contact with an emergency medical technician in an ambulance or to enable a
police officer to talk to an EMA/ESDA official at a disaster site.
A synopsis of commonly asked questions follows:
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Authorized users? Public Safety Agencies
Type Traffic Allowed? Official Public Safety
duties related to protection of life and/or property, testing; itinerant
Base Stations Authorized? Public Safety agencies
meeting licensing guidelines
Base station requirements? Dispatch
multi-discipline (two or more authorized disciplines)
Primarily mobile to mobile? Yes
Flash messages? (Base Station Dispatches) Must be
of interest to two or more disciplines
Common Channel? Yes, statewide (F-3 position
recommended)
FCC license? Yes, each individual agency must
apply for and maintain its own base or mobile license.
Governing Board? Yes
How are applications screened? As base station,
by Governing Board, and as mobile, by the APCO Co-Primary Frequency Advisors.
IREACH was established as a coordinating channel
to enhance public safety effectiveness through better interagency communication.
OPERATING GUIDELINES
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The definition of acceptable IREACH traffic is
deliberately broad. IREACH may be used to coordinate official public safety
activities involving two or more public safety agencies. Official activities are
defined as those serving to provide for the protection of life and/or property.
Licensed base stations will be allowed to operate
on IREACH to foster coordination and communications between public safety units.
A base station may initiate a dispatch if it is of significant interest to two
or more disciplines. Messages that qualify for ISPERN should be forwarded to the
appropriate ISPERN control point for broadcast. If the message also has
significant value to another discipline, such as Fire, EMS, EMA/ESDA, Highway
Maintenance, or Conservation/Forestry, it can be broadcast on IREACH.
The base station call sign shall be broadcast at
the end of each series of transmissions as an indication that the agency has
concluded its use of the channel momentarily and is ready to accept traffic.
Automatic station identifiers are specifically
prohibited.
IREACH shall not be used by a single agency for
field operations or as an intra-agency car-to-car channel. Paging and other
forms of selective signalling will not be allowed on IREACH.
LICENSING
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Each agency desiring to utilize IREACH must apply
for a mobile and/or base station license. Before the FCC will act on a license
application, the request must be coordinated by one of the two Association of
Public Safety Communications Officials, Inc. (APCO) Co-Primary Frequency
Advisors assigned for Illinois. Frequency coordination is the act of evaluating
an application for a frequency to determine if interference may be caused to an
entity already utilizing that channel.
The address and telephone, facsimile and voice,
for the Illinois APCO Co-Primary Frequency Advisors are included in Appendix 1
following this manual. They can be contacted for the correct coordination forms.
Mobile Licensing
Once the application has been completed and
delivered via facsimile or mailed to the appropriate Co-Primary Frequency
Advisor, as contained in Appendix 1, the Frequency Advisor will review the
documentation and render a decision based on applicant eligibility and notify
the requesting agency of the decision. If approved, the coordination form must
then be submitted with appropriate forms and fees to APCO (International) for
licensing.
Mobile Licensing Guideline Statement
Mobile licenses will be granted to any applicant
defined as a local government or eligible public safety agency and meeting the
basic radio service criteria established by the Federal Communications
Commission and the APCO Frequency Advisor. No paging or selective signaling
devices shall be allowed on this frequency. The IREACH frequency, 155.055 MHz,
installed in multi-channel radios shall be assigned, whenever possible, to the
F3 position.
Base Station Licenses
Base station requests must be prepared on
appropriate FCC and APCO coordinating forms and copies delivered (without
fees)to the appropriate APCO Co-Primary Frequency Advisor as contained in
Appendix 1. The Frequency Advisor will forward the request with pertinent
co-channel research data to the IREACH Governing Board for their consideration.
Filing restrictions placed by the FCC demand, at a minimum, two filing windows
for IREACH licensing. Filing windows are established as January 1st, April 1st,
July 1st, and October 1st. The Board will meet no more than 45 days after each
filing deadline to consider the applications. The Board reserves the right to
request certain additional documentation from the applicant before making their
final decision. The IREACH Governing Board has developed the licensing
statements to guide them in their deliberations:
Base Station Licensing Guidelines Statement
Base station licenses will be granted to any
public safety agency that, through common agreement, provides (or is
establishing an agency to provide) a multi-discipline emergency dispatch service
on a 24-hour basis utilizing the frequency 155.055 MHz. Discipline, for the
purposes of this guideline, is defined as public safety agencies as defined on
page two. Applications must be accompanied by proper documentation. The
permitted effective radiated power, ERP, and antenna height shall be no more
than necessary, based on an engineering study conducted using the APCO provided
Topographic Analysis Program, to cover the jurisdiction area. No paging or
selective signaling devices shall be allowed on this frequency. The IREACH
frequency, 155.055 MHz, installed in multi-channel radios shall be assigned,
wherever possible, to the F3 position.
Condition of Authorization
1. Base station licenses are recommended without
regard to compensation for services rendered and licensees shall provide
emergency services, without prejudice, to other authorized users.
2. The IREACH Governing board retains the right
to either waive certain requirements or impose more stringent requirements when
it is in the best interest of public safety and the citizens of the geographical
area to do so. Further, the IREACH Governing Board retains the right to require,
at license renewal time, a review of an authorization to ensure that the best
service is being provided for public safety.
Special Provisions for Northeast Illinois
Recognizing that the six-county Chicago
metropolitan area, encompassing Cook, Lake, DuPage, McHenry, Will, and Kane
counties, presents special conditions in relation to the assignment of base
station licenses on the IREACH channel, the IREACH Governing Board approved the
following policy statement on March 7, 1984.
Base station licenses on the IREACH frequency,
155.055 MHz, may be approved for groups of two or more political sub-divisions
in the six county Chicago metropolitan area, one of which has agreed to provide
base station services on the IREACH frequency free of any charge. A political
sub-division, for the purposes of this policy, has the same definition as
provided in Chapter 127, Section 1104 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (County,
City, Village or Incorporated Town). The IREACH Governing Board reserves the
right to establish "communications areas" for the purpose of IREACH
use only, based on the geographical location of group members. The base station
transmitter output, antenna height, and ERP shall be limited, based on an
engineering study conducted using the APCO provided Topographic Analysis
Program, to that necessary to serve the "communication area". The
IREACH Governing Board reserves the right to suggest membership in an
established group and to deny base station application based on the fact that
the applicant is within an established "communication area".
ARBITRATION AND ENFORCEMENT GUIDELINES
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The IREACH Governing Board was constituted to
establish guidelines for the IREACH frequency, 155.055 MHz, and will also serve
as the arbitration and enforcement arm for that frequency. In such capacity, the
Governing Board will oversee the frequency use and ensure adherence to the
operational guideline by all users. The following procedures have been adopted
by the Governing Board.
1. Complaints regarding the misuse of the IREACH
frequency should be forwarded with the pertinent documentation to the IREACH
Governing Board c/o the appropriate Illinois APCO Co-Primary Frequency Advisor.
Address and telephone information is contained in Appendix 1.
2. Complaints, with all pertinent license
information and documentation provided by the Co-Primary Frequency Advisor, will
be forwarded to the Chairman of the Governing Board for review.
3. Investigation of the situation will be
conducted by the IREACH Governing Board member representing the appropriate
discipline or by an alternate appointed by the Governing Board Chairman.
4. Subsequent to investigation of the complaint
and a report being submitted, the Governing Board will solicit response from all
concerned parties and will review all facts, hear all arguments and reach a
majority ruling. The Board will then inform interested parties of its ruling.
5. If indicated, the Board will serve written
first notice to the party or parties involved in the infraction requesting
corrective action and a response as to their positive intent or notice of what
action was taken to correct the misuse.
6. Hearing no further complaint, the case would
be closed.
7. A repeat complaint of the same misuse will
constitute issuance of a second notice, which will warn the party or parties
involved that if misuse continues, the IREACH Governing Board will forward to
the Federal Communications Commission a request that this offender's license be
revoked.
8. If misuse continues after a second notice, the
IREACH Governing Board will issue a third notice, which will include a
recommendation to the FCC to revoke the IREACH license.
Termination of Participation
1. Any license holder desiring to terminate
IREACH participation should notify the Governing Board.
2. Any negligent, willful or continued misuse of
the IREACH frequency will be subject to the arbitration and enforcement
procedure after which the Board may recommend that the FCC revoke the operating
authority of the violating agency.
IREACH GOVERNING BOARD
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The Governing Board was created to develop
guidelines, policies and procedures to regulate the use of IREACH and to serve
the APCO Frequency Advisors and the Federal Communications Commission in an
advisory capacity.
The Governing Board is composed of 20 voting
members representing all public safety disciplines. The Board meets quarterly,
or as directed by the chairman.
Correspondence with the Board should be addressed
to the appropriate Co-Primary Frequency Advisor as contained in Appendix 1.
GOVERNING BOARD BY-LAWS
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The Governing Board is an independent governing
board without affiliation to other organizations. It was created to develop
guidelines, policies and procedures to regulate the use of the Illinois Radio
Emergency Assistance Channel radio frequency and advise the Illinois Association
of Public Safety Communications Officials Co-Primary Frequency Advisors and the
Federal Communications Commission. The Governing Board will review information
pertaining to existing licenses and recommend continuance, disciplinary action
or cancellation, as required.
Article I. Membership
1. The Board shall consist of 20 voting members.
The Board, in selecting these members, shall endeavor to include all
geographical areas of the State as well as the appropriate population centers.
2. Members of this Board shall be nominated by
the following organizations or authorities and their membership shall be subject
to confirmation by the full Illinois Radio Emergency Assistance Channel
Governing Board.
A. Illinois Department of State Police 1 member
B. Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police 1
member
C. Illinois Sheriffs' Association 1 member
D. Illinois Fire Chiefs' Association 1 member
E. Illinois Assn of Fire Protection Districts 1
member
F. Illinois Association of County Engineers 1
member
G. Illinois Emergency Services Management Assn 1
member
H. Illinois National Emergency Number Assn 1
member
I. City of Chicago - 911 Center 1 member
J. Illinois Emergency Management Agency 1 member
K. Enhanced 9-1-1 Coordinator 1 member
L. Southern Region Co-Primary Frequency Advisor 1
member
M. Northern Region Co-Primary Frequency Advisor 1
member
N. Illinois Commerce Commission, 9-1-1 Division 1
member
O. Multi-Agency Communications Services Section 1
member
P. Illinois State Ambulance Association 1 member
3. The Governing board shall appoint
non-affiliated persons to the following positions as voting members of the
Board:
A. Active Telecommunicators 2 members
B. Ambulance/Rescue personnel 1 member
C. Forestry and Conservation 1 member
Article II. Terms of Appointments
1. Membership on the Governing Board will be for
a term of two (2) years. Terms of appointment will begin as of July 1 as
follows:
A. Odd numbered years:
Illinois Department of State Police
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police
Illinois Sheriffs' Association
Illinois Fire Chiefs' Association
Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts
One Telecommunicator Seat
Illinois State Ambulance Association
Illinois Emergency Management Agency
Illinois Commerce Commission - 911 Division
B. Even numbered years:
Illinois Association of County Engineers
Illinois Emergency Services Management
Association
Illinois National Emergency Number Association
Forestry and Conservation Seat
Enhanced 9-1-1 Coordinator Seat
One Telecommunicator Seat
Ambulance/Rescue Seat
City of Chicago - Enhanced 9-1-1 Center
Multi-Agency Communications Services Section
2. All terms stated above will commence July 1,
and expire June 30, two years thereafter.
3. All members of the Board shall continue in
office until their successors are appointed.
4. To fill a vacancy, the Secretary will notify,
in writing, the appointing authority and request that another person be
appointed to complete the unexpired term.
5. All members shall be eligible to succeed
themselves indefinitely.
Article III. Member Absence and Alternate Members
1. A Board Member may appoint an alternate member
to attend the meeting and vote in the member's behalf. Such appointment must be
made in writing and presented to the Chairman.
2. Any member not attending (or appointing an
alternate) for three (3) consecutive meetings shall forfeit his/her seat.
Article IV. Officers
1. The Board shall elect from its own members one
Chairman, one Vice-Chairman, one Secretary and one Treasurer. The terms of
office shall be two years.
2. In the absence of the Chairman; the
Vice-Chairman, Secretary, or Treasurer; in that order, will serve as Chairman.
3. In the absence of the Chairman, the
Vice-Chairman, the Secretary, and the Treasurer; a temporary Chairman will be
selected by the board.
4. All officers may succeed themselves
indefinitely.
5. The Board may create and fill through
election, from its own membership, such additional officers as is necessary.
Article V. Nomination and Election of Officers
1. The nomination of officers shall be held at
the first meeting after January 1 of each even year. The election of officers
shall be held at the first meeting held after April 1 and shall be by ballot
unless there is no contest for the office.
2. A special election to fill a vacancy in office
may be held at any regular meeting. Any officer so elected will serve in that
capacity until the next regular election.
Article VI. Meetings
1. Regular meetings of the Board will be
quarterly or as called by the Chairman.
2. Written notice of all regular meetings must be
delivered via facsimile or mailed to members at least two weeks prior to the
meeting date.
3. Special meetings may be called by the
Chairman, or upon written request of three members of the Board. Notification of
special meetings may be made by facsimile, telephone, radio contact or mail,
provided notices are given to all members and their appointing authority not
less than 72 hours prior to the meeting date.
Article VII. Duties of Officers
1. The Chairman shall call all meetings, set the
agenda for meetings, preside at meetings, and appoint sub-committees when
needed.
2. The Vice-Chairman shall assume the duties of
the Chairman in his absence. He shall perform other duties as assigned by the
Chairman.
3. The Secretary shall maintain Board records as
required, record minutes of all meetings, and distribute copies of the minutes
to:
A. Each member of the Governing Board.
B. Any one else designated by the Chairman.
4. The Treasurer shall maintain all funds,
monies, and financial records. A financial report shall be provided at each
meeting.
5. The Co-Primary Frequency Advisor shall compile
pertinent data for each application received for presentation to the Board and
compose correspondence to applicants, when required, with the full authority of
the Governing Board.
Article VIII. Sub-Committee Membership
The Chairman of the Board may appoint persons as
needed to sub-committees for special projects or studies. Professional and/or
technical personnel, so appointed, need not be members of the Board.
Article IX. Amendments
These by-laws may be amended at any regular
meeting of the Governing Board, provided, however, that the proposed amendment
has been introduced for consideration at the previous meeting and has been made
a part of the minutes of that meeting. A majority of those present must vote in
the affirmative to amend the by-laws.
Article X. Quorum
A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of
members and appointed alternate members of the Board.
Revised: August 14, 1996
Historically, Illinois has been one of the top
five states in numbers of Public Safety FCC licenses held and number of radios
purchased and operated. In June 1994, the International office of the
Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials approved the plan
submitted by the Illinois Primary Frequency Advisor to divide the state for
coordination activities into two regions. The regions are geographically defined
by Interstate I-80. Those counties that contain I-80 and those counties north of
I-80 were assigned to the Northern Region.
The Northern Region covers the following 22
counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Henry, JoDaviess,
Kane, Kendall, Lake, La Salle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Rock Island,
Stephenson, Whiteside, Will, and Winnebago. The remaining 80 counties make up
the Southern Region. The Illinois Co-Primary Frequency Advisors can be contacted
as follows:
Northern Region
Primary Frequency Advisor
Office of Emergency Communications
1411 W. Madison Avenue
Chicago, IL 60607
(Work) 312-746-9252
(Fax) 312-746-9202
Southern Region
Primary Frequency Advisor
531 Sangamon Avenue
Springfield, Illinois 62702
(Work) 217-782-5742
(Fax) 217-524-4396
Appendix 1
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Revised: June 22, 1999
ILLINOIS RADIO EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE CHANNEL
GOVERNING BOARD
QUESTIONNAIRE FOR IREACH BASE STATION LICENSE
APPLICATION
1. Applicant Organizational Name:
__________________________________
Address:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Telephone: ______________________ Fax:
_____________________
2. Do you provide dispatch service on a
multi-discipline and/or multi jurisdiction basis, on a regular, 24 hour basis?
__YES __NO Provide list below and include letters from the disciplines and/or
jurisdictions served or explain your answer:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. If your department receives an IREACH base
station license, will you agree to provide EMERGENCY radio communications to all
other jurisdictions and disciplines in your area utilizing the IREACH Channel
and to maintain the base station, all at no charge to the other agencies? __ YES
__NO
4. I / We have read the IREACH Manual and agree
that use of said base station will follow the guidelines issued by the IREACH
Governing Board. __YES __NO
5. I / We understand the IREACH Channel is not to
be used for paging, selective signaling, or tone squelch applications. __YES
__NO
6. Do you intend to have more than one operating
point for the base station?
__YES __NO If Yes, how many? _______ Who will
have the operating points?
______________________________________________________________________
Please complete this form and return to the
appropriate Illinois Co-Primary Frequency Advisor for submission to the IREACH
Governing Board. Your license application will receive consideration at the next
IREACH Governing Board meeting.
Appendix 2
Revised: August 14, 1996
Illinois Radio Emergency Assistance Channel
The IREACH Governing Board is pleased to present
this copy of the IREACH Users Manual. In order to facilitate the update process,
please complete and return the form below. Future updates will be forwarded to
your agency as they are published. Thank you for your interest in the IREACH
frequency.
Complete agency/municipality Name:
__________________________
Complete Mailing address:
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Point of Contact Person:
____________________________________
Telephone: ______________________ Fax:
____________________
License Callsign authorizing usage of IREACH:
_____________
Number of units; Base Stations: ___ Mobiles: ___
Portable: ___
Please include a brief description of your
involvement with IREACH and any suggestions that you feel could make this radio
asset more effective to your operation.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Return survey by mail to:
Thomas J. Ward, Jr.
531 Sangamon Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702
or Fax: 1-217-524-4396
