www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2012-03-21

Training: ICS Communications Unit
Every incident requires that certain management functions be performed. The problem must be identified and assessed, a plan to deal with it developed and implemented, and the necessary resources procured and paid for. Regardless of the size of the incident, these management functions still will apply.

There are FIVE major management functions that are the foundation upon which the ICS organization develops. These functions are:

1) Incident Command
-- Sets the incident objectives, strategies, and priorities and has overall responsibility for the incident.

2) Operations
-- Conducts operations to reach the incident objectives, and establishes the tactics and directs all operational resources.

3) Planning
-- Supports the incident action planning process by tracking resources, collecting/analyzing information, and maintaining documentation.

4) Logistics
-- Provides resources and needed services to support the achievement of the incident objectives.

5) Finance & Administration
-- Monitors costs related to the incident. Provides accounting, procurement, time recording.

The Communications Unit comes under the Logistics function, and develops the Communications Plan (ICS 205), to make the most effective use of the communications equipment and facilities assigned to the incident.
Additionally, this Unit installs and tests all communications equipment, supervises and operates the incident communications center, distributes and recovers communications equipment assigned to incident personnel, and maintains and repairs communications equipment on site.

The Communications Unit is responsible for effective incident communications planning, especially in the context of a multi-agency incident. All communications between organizational elements during an incident should be in plain language (clear text) to ensure that information dissemination is clear and understood by all intended recipients. Planning is critical for determining required radio nets, establishing inter-agency frequency assignments, and ensuring the interoperability and the optimal use of all assigned communications capabilities.

The Communications Unit Leadershould attend all incident Planning Meetings to ensure that the communication systems available for the incident can support tactical operations planned for the next operational period.

Incident communications are managed through the use of an incident Communications Plan and a communications center established solely for the use of tactical and support resources assigned to the incident. Advance planning is required to ensure that an appropriate communications system is available to support incident operations requirements. This planning includes the development of frequency inventories, frequency-use agreements, and inter-agency radio caches.

Nets
Radio networks for large incidents may be organized as follows:

1. Command Net
-- The command net links together Incident Command, Command Staff, Section Ch

2. Tactical Nets
-- Several tactical nets may be established to connect departments, agencies, geographical areas, or specific functional units. The determination of how nets are set up should be a joint function designed by Planning, Operations, and Logistics.

3. Support Net
-- A support net may be established primarily to handle changes in resource status but also to handle logistical requests and other non-tactical functions.


4. Air-to-Ground Net
-- To coordinate air-to-ground traffic, either a specific tactical frequency may be designated, or regular tactical nets may be used.

5. Air-to-Air Nets
-- Air-to-air nets may be designated and assigned for use at the incident. An air-to-air net is designed to be used by airborne assets; ground units should not utilize this net.

- FEMA ICS