Last year the "I" word was on everyone's lips. The "I" word was interoperability.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors study on interoperability in May of 2004 put a price tag of over fifteen million dollars to implement interoperability in the country.

Congressional committees took testimony from police, fire and emergency medical responders. The 911 Commissions noted the need for interoperability implementation in their well read report.

The Department of Homeland Security set up a new office of interoperability and compatibility to coordinate, develop and implement programs.

On June 22, 2004 the Administration formally announced the RapidCom 9/30 program which provided resources to certain high threat urban areas and introduced standardized operating procedures, regional governance, and training and exercises

The following areas were to have incident-level, interoperable emergency communications by September 30, 2004, hence RapidCom9/30: Miami, Jersey City, San Francisco, Philadelphia, the District of Columbia, Boston, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.

As we pass the four month marker since the RapidCom9/30 roll out it would be interesting to see the views of those participating and those who are watching the implementation in those cities.

Is RapidCom9/30 meeting the unique needs of each individual urban area in the program? Is the DHS guidance being provided adequate and is the hoped for regional governance developing at the pace anticipated?

There are probably internal checklists that would be very good to review as the programs progress but I'll settle for a person-in-the-trenches view so that things aren't glossed over.

Any takers?