Governance

Establishing a common governing structure for solving interoperability issues will improve the polices, processes, and procedures of any major projects by:

• enhancing communications, coordination, and cooperation
• establishing guidelines and principles
• reducing any internal jurisdictional conflicts.

These resources help provide insight and direction on how to build strong governing structures.

SAFECOM Governance Resources

• SAFECOM Best Practices for Governance Charters White Paper (.pdf, 598.43 KB)
  This white paper is a guide to assist state, local, tribal, and territorial public safety entities in developing charters and bylaws and describes the key elements found in effective charters and bylaws.
• Best Practices for Governance Structure Membership Analysis (.pdf, 274.53 KB)
  Outlines best practices to consider when assessing governance structure membership composition for gaps to better align with the evolving ecosystem and create greater interoperability in emergency communications.
• 2018 Emergency Communications Governance Guide for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Officials (.pdf, 3.6 MB)
  The Governance Guide serves as a comprehensive tool that provides recommendations and best practices for emergency communications officials at all levels of government to establish, assess, and update governance structures that represent all emergency communications capabilities (Land Mobile Radio [LMR], broadband, 911/Next Generation 911 [NG911], alerts and warnings).
• SAFECOM Recommended Guidelines for Statewide Public Safety Communications Governance Structure (.pdf, 989.02 KB)
  Building on the SAFECOM 2015 Emergency Communications Governance Guide for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Officials, this document provides recommended guidelines to encourage uniformity in approach to the governance of statewide public safety communications, including systems and networks, to promote their operability, interoperability, efficiency and effectiveness across and among states.
• 2010 Regional Intrastate Governance Guide for Interoperable Communications Efforts (.pdf, 2.08 MB)
  The Department of Homeland Security developed this guide to explain how to set up regional governance organizations for emergency communications.
• 2006 Enhancing Communications Interoperability: General Guidance and Recommendations for Interoperability-Related Governance (.pdf, 424.05 KB)
  Presents general information about the role, structure, and operations of governing bodies charged with improving communications interoperability at the State, regional, local, or tribal level.
• Writing Guide for a Memorandum for Understanding (MOU) (.pdf, 650.88 KB)
  Provides a recommended MOU structure and questions to consider when writing the MOU’s content.
• Interoperability Elevator Pitch (.pdf, 109.17 KB)
  Provides a brief overview on the importance of interoperability issues, the Office of Emergency Communications, and Statewide Interoperability Coordinators, and Statewide Interoperability Governing Boards.
• Messaging the Importance of Governance (.pdf, 106.10 KB)
  Fact sheet that educates various audiences on the importance of the Statewide Interoperability Coordinators and Statewide Interoperability Governing Boards.

For even more resources visit SAFECOM Resources, SAFECOM Technology, or the SAFECOM homepage.