WISCOM (Wisconsin Interoperable System of Communications) was formed with the cooperation of multiple state and local agencies to implement a statewide system of radio communications. Existing infrastructure (towers, equipment shelters, microwave) that were owned by both state and local agencies were used wherever possible to increase the impact of available funding.
For more information on the WISCOM radio system, please visit the WISCOM program page .
The Statewide System Management Group (SSMG) was formed by the Office of Justice Assistance (OJA) to provide input as WISCOM was being developed beginning in 2008. The SSMG was the precursor to today’s WISCOM subcommittee, and membership was made up of state, county, local and tribal representatives who developed policy and procedures for WISCOM system users.
The current WISCOM subcommittee is part of the Interoperability Council (IC), and is charged with the following tasks:
- Advise and make recommendations to the IC related to WISCOM.
- Ensure reliable and responsive statewide communications interoperability among public safety and other government services.
- Provide a link between WISCOM users and the IC.
The rules and responsibilities of the WISCOM Subcommittee can be found in the Interoperability Council Subcommittee Bylaws.
Chair: Keith Kesler, Fire Chief – Brule Fire Department, Vice President – Douglas County Vacationland Fire and Emergency Association
Vice-Chair: Vacant
The WISCOM Subcommittee shall consist of twenty-two (22) voting members.
The following members shall be confirmed by the Interoperability Council for three (3) year terms:
- Two (2) representatives from each of the six (6) Wisconsin Emergency Management regions, representing daily user agencies of the WISCOM system in that region.
- If a region does not have two (2) current daily user agencies on the WISCOM system, a non-daily user may be appointed in place of each unfilled daily user agency representative.
- To the extent possible, representatives from any single region should represent different public safety disciplines (e.g., fire, EMS, law enforcement).
- One (1) representative from an American Indian tribe or band in Wisconsin who is a daily user of the WISCOM system.
- If there is not a daily user of tribal or band representation, a non-daily user tribal or band representative may be appointed.
- One (1) radio system administrator or technician representing an affiliated land mobile radio system managed by a local, county, or state government.
- One (1) representative from a federal entity which is a daily user of the WISCOM system.
- If there is not a federal daily user of the system, a non-daily federal entity user may be appointed.
The following members shall be appointed by the Interoperability Council based on Secretary or agency head recommendation:
- One (1) representative from the Wisconsin Department of Justice
- One (1) representative from the Wisconsin State Patrol
- One (1) representative from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- One (1) representative from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services
- One (1) representative from the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs
- One (1) representative from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections
- One (1) Wisconsin Department of Health Services Hospital and Healthcare Systems Coordinator, or their designee
When the State is actively served by Regional Interoperability Coordinators (RICs), each coordinator shall serve as a non-voting member of the WISCOM Subcommittee.
Interested in joining WISCOM or learning more about it? Please send an email to Interop@widma.gov with some basic information about your agency needs to get the conversation started.ISCOM system key and programming information is available. Please send an email to interop@widma.gov for more information.
*Having mission critical technical problems with WISCOM? Please contact WISCOM Technical Support at 608-2WISCOM (608-294-7266) or email wiscomtech@dot.wi.gov