Massachusetts governor announces statewide interoperability plan | 12.10.2007 | 04:46:28 | Views: 5781 | ID: December 10 '07: iBerkshires.com reported that Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has announced a new Statewide Communications and Interoperability Plan to link first responders. The program was developed by state officials working with interoperable public safety company Science Applications International Corp.. More than 200 participants from state and local agencies helped to identify key areas for development during 22 focus groups. The new program will enable "state and local emergency response agencies and other key stakeholders to effectively exchange communications and data," the website reported. Working with the state's Secretary of Public Safety and Security Kevin Burke, the governor's program could receive up to $21 million in federal funding. The announcement of the new program comes roughly five months after Gov. Patrick announced plans to rework the state's emergency response apparatus. The new emergency planning included charging state police "with overseeing the large-scale movement of traffic and the government [would] make plans for three large evacuations centers," the Associated Press reported. Burke said, according to iBerkshires.com, "The Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan is designed to strengthen public safety partnerships between cities and towns and ensure that first responders throughout the commonwealth have the training and resources they need to save lives."
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