Radio User Device Configuration Standards
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov/
February 9, 2009
In Reply Refer To:
1292 (410) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 02/11/2009
Instruction Memorandum No. 2009-070
Expires: 09/30/2010
To: State and Center Directors
Attn: State Radio Leads and Fire Management Officers
From: Assistant Director, Fire and Aviation
Subject: Radio User Device Configuration Standards
Program Area: Land Mobile Radio Communications
Purpose: This Instruction Memorandum publishes the radio user device configuration standards for 2009 as endorsed by the Fire National Operations Committeeand the National Interagency Incident Communications Division.
Policy/Action: By May 1, 2009, each State and Center shall have all non-Law Enforcement radios configured per the attached standards. These standards will remain in effect until October 1, 2009.
The attached standards provide the required and recommended software, firmware, button, and programming configurations for radios used within Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Any configuration options not listed in the attachment may be set locally to best suit the need.
All BLM radios and systems using frequencies from 162 to 174 MHz or 406 to 420 MHz shall operate in the narrowband. BLM radio systems supporting wild land fire operations may use the analog mode. The use of the digital mode is at the discretion of the State or Center for any other business activity.
Radio systems, where a Tone Pick List is used, shall have the tone list configured per the attachment.
Waivers from this policy shall be addressed to the National Radio Communications Division Chief (WO 410). The waiver request must contain the model of the equipment, the justification why the configuration cannot be implemented, and the requested configuration to be used in the radios.
Extensions for the configuration completion due date shall be addressed to the National Radio Communications Division Chief (WO 410) containing the models of the equipment, the justification why the configuration date cannot be met, and the proposed completion date.
Time Frame: This policy is effective upon receipt.
Background: The 2004 post fire season comments indicated the need for national radio configuration standards to improve firefighter safety and to make communications support more efficient and effective. As a result, configuration board meetings have been held in each year to define these radio configurations standards and further improve the safety for all employees. These boards consisted of fire, resource and law enforcement radio users and technicians from BLM and the US Forest Service. These recommended standards were also submitted to the Fire National Equipment and Operations Committees for review and endorsement.
Budget Impact: Minimal. Pre-field season radio maintenance and configuration is normally conducted each year during the off season.
Manual/Handbooks Affected: None.
Coordination: This document was coordinated with the BLM Fire and Aviation, the US Forest Service, and the National Interagency Fire Center Incident Communications Division.
Contact: Please address any questions or concerns regarding this policy to Annette Box at 208- 387-5822 or Brandon Diemer at 208-387-5881.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
Jim Douglas Robert M. Williams
Assistant Director Division of IRM Governance,WO-560
Fire and Aviation
1 Attachment:
1 - Bureau of Land Management Radio Configuration Standards 2009 (7 pp)