The NHTSA emergency medical services communications program

The expansion of emergency medical services is limited by residual problems of inadequacy of communications systems developed using insufficient and inadequate VHF frequency channels. The promise of correcting these inadequacies by making available a block of UHF channels for use with a common frequency allocation structure is being diluted by short-sighted planning permitted by inadequacies in applicable FCC rules. There is a need to revisit Docket 19880 to consider issuance of additional rules needed to foster the most effective use of the block of UHF frequency channels available for emergency medical services. Technology is available which offers promise for application to expand the coverage of EMS communications with appropriate concessions to cost-effectiveness. Before much additional investment is made, in improving or expanding EMS communications, it is necessary that the coordination of system planning is improved. Improved coordination in federally funded projects is required but is not sufficient to prevent unnecessary and detrimental diversity in EMS communications systems implementation. There is also a need for state level supervision of local level EMS communications system planning and implementation to assure that all elements of the system, regardless of funding source, are compatible, interoperable, and in compliance with statewide plans.