Our governmental examples of interoperability include SAFECOM, GAO,and e-GIF. All of these are attempts to standardize protocol or force the use of a universal proccess.

SAFECOM is a program of the Department of Homeland Security dedicated to communications interoperability for emergency responders. They are backed by the Office of Emergency Communications and the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility.

They have defined interoperability as the ability of every standard, procedure, or format to communicate between each other. Interoperability can be hindered by:

• Incompatible and aging communications equipment;
• Limited and fragmented budget cycles and funding;
• Limited and fragmented planning and coordination;
• Limited and fragmented radio spectrum;
• And limited equipment standards.

Among the steps SAFECOM has taken to advance interoperability are:

• In 2004, it released a Statement of Requirements for public safety communications interoperability
• Conducted a national interoperability baseline survey and released its Interoperability Continuum
• It released the Statewide Communications Interoperability Planning (SCIP) Methodology
• It established a Grant Guidance document to ensure that interoperabilty is a fundamental component of any new initiatives

The Government Accounting Office, GAO, conducted interoperability research on grants that the Department of Homeland Security awarded. This research was conducted in Congress' request to see how the grant monies were being used and to determine the development and implementation of interoperability. As a result of their research they recommended that the Department of Homeland Security give states assessments on their use of the grants and give guidance on acquiring interoperable equipment.

The Department of Homeland Security gave Florida a 55.7 million dollar grant to develop a system of interoperability. In response, Floridaian government established a committee to decide how the money should be spent. It was determined that completely replacing the old system with a new system would cost too much. Instead, they established a dispatch center that receives and translates signals and redistributes them to relevant personnel. Florida's government also established a mobile version called Mutual Aid Radio Communications who are equipped with their own radios to be deployed to first responders. Radios are deployed when local communications are down, or, when neighboring states have need during emergenices such as hurricane Katrina.



e-GIF, a current project in the United Kingdom, defines interoperability as the ability of government organizations to share/integrate information and business processes by using common standards. e-GIF, which is short for electronic Government Interoperability Framework, is a set of policies and standards which will allow information to be shared seamlessly with the public. The framework will provide citizens and businesses with better access to modern and improved public services. The e-GIF will reduce costs and risks, and allow organizations to concentrate on providing information and services to their customers.

The standards that the e-GIF endorses remain accessible to everyone free of charge. Aspirations of the e-GIF include:

• Reusability of systems, knowledge, and experience from one agency to another, thereby allowing government agencies to work together more efficiently electronically.
• Reduced reliance on tapes and disks to exchange data because they tend to be unreliable and insecure.

Many industry-based examples are available to show the importance of interoperabilty among local emergency agencies. In addition to numerous home security companies, General Motors has developed a mobile system called OnStar to assist its customers.

OnStar is a device that allows drivers or passengers in danger to call for help and be located if he or she does not have the time or ability use a cell phone. The system incorporates many different technologies such as GPS, cellular phone, and emergency response systems. The OnStar console contains a built-in microphone and utilizes the car's speakers. When a car's occupant makes a call, one merely says the number or a name associated with the number and the OnStar console calls on its own allowing the occupant the speak "hands free." The Vehicle Comm and Interface Module (VCIM) within the car connects the vehicle to OnStar's Call Center. Not only does OnStar make it easier to make calls, but it guarantees better cellular reception. It uses a full 3 watts as opposed to a cell phone's 0.6 watts. OnStar also incorporates voice recognition in more ways than just the telephone: one can request information on the weather, acquire turn-by-turn directions, and request roadside assistance. Also in the event of an accident, the OnStar Call Center used four different satellites to pinpoint the car's location when either the driver or the car itself asks to be located. The VCIM will translate requests into XML (Extensible Markup Language), translate it into VoiceXML, and dictate the requested information.


The OnStar buttons can usually be found on the rearview mirror, the dashboard, or the overhead console. There are a total of four buttons. The first is the power button. The second is the phone call button that you press to make cellular calls. The third is the blue OnStar button that alows you to contact a live or computer advisor in order to set up an OnStar plan. The final button is the red emergency button.