Interoperability Montana (IM) Project

Northern Tier Interoperability Project (NTIP)

NTIP is a partnership of local, state, tribal, and Federal government agencies, each of which has challenging requirements for radio communications. The major purpose of the NTIP is to provide its partners with the communications tools needed to communicate securely with the Federal Government Communications Radios and provide a seamless network for the dissemination of database information between federal, tribal, state and local emergency responders and law enforcement. Several partners have projects already underway and NTIP will interconnect standards-based systems to make the most of existing resources, extend them to neighboring cooperators, and expand capabilities for all. The Montana National Guard's homeland security mission will be enhanced through highly reliable, redundant communications capabilities to its Highline armories.

Northern Tier Interoperability Consortium (NTIC)

On May 26, 2004, Blaine, Daniels, Flathead, Glacier, Hill, Liberty, Lincoln, Phillips, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Toole and Valley Counties and Blackfeet, Confederated Salish and Kootenai, Fort Belknap and Fort Peck Indian Nations signed letters of intent to form the Northern Tier Interoperability Consortium (NTIC) to set the basic framework for providing secure communication capability between federal law enforcement agencies and State and local law enforcement agencies. Montana's Northern Tier Interoperability Project (NTIP) was established to provide a consolidated local, state, tribal, and federal radio system for law enforcement purposes. With over 550 miles of border with Canada, Montana law enforcement officials have critical communications interoperability requirements between levels of government and across jurisdictions. The NTIP radio system will provide advanced digital, secure voice and data communications for law enforcement interoperability across this vital border region. It will also improve homeland security by providing the means for military and civil authorities to communicate by radio. The Montana National Guard's homeland security mission will be enhanced through highly reliable, redundant communications capabilities to its Highline armories.

The objective of the consortium is to develop an interoperable P25 Phase 1 Standards multimode radio communications system based on federal and state communication standards in which federal, state and local public safety and emergency management representatives can operate autonomously and transition seamlessly to communicate effectively in emergency mission roles.

NTIP Materials

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