Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC)

Welcome to the North Dakota Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee, sometimes known as the SIEC. As a guiding committee established to improve public safety communications across the State of North Dakota, our members are committed to the representative and collaborative promotion of interoperable communications statewide.

Foundations

Officially established by Governor Jack Dalrymple on September 14, 2012 under Executive Order 2012-10, the Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee, or SIEC, was envisioned as a collaboration among representatives from state agencies and responder groups from across North Dakota counties, townships and cities for the purpose of continually improving effective communication between emergency first responders, emergency management personnel and other emergency service providers critical for federal, state and local governments during an emergency.

During the 63rd Legislative Assembly, the Legislature codified the work of the SIEC, establishing the Committee as a permanent body under NDCC 37-17.3-02.1. with a diverse membership under the premise that a statewide integrated radio communication system will more effectively serve the goals of law enforcement and emergency response personnel and thereby better serve the people of North Dakota.

The 65th Legislative Assembly continued to mature the make up of the committee, adding three new members, including representatives from the House and Senate as well as adding the ND Indian Affairs Commission to the panel in order to ensure inclusion across all aspects of North Dakota public safety, planning, procurement, and operations.

Membership

The membership of the SIEC includes a diverse body of representatives from across the State as well as key state agencies, important to the daily operation, maintenance and support of current and future radio communications within North Dakota.

• North Dakota 911 Association
• North Dakota Adjutant General
• North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, State Radio Director’s Office
• North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, Division of Homeland Security
• North Dakota Department of Transportation
• North Dakota Emergency Management Association
• North Dakota Emergency Medical Services Association
• North Dakota Fire Chiefs Association 
• North Dakota Highway Patrol (Current Chair)
• North Dakota Chief Information Officer/Information Technology Department (Current Vice Chair)
• North Dakota Police Chiefs Association
• North Dakota Peace Officers Association
• North Dakota Sheriff's and Deputies Association
• North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission
• North Dakota Game and Fish
• North Dakota Department of Health
• North Dakota League of Cities
• North Dakota Association of Counties
• North Dakota Legislative Assembly, House of Representatives
• North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Senate

The SIEC Chair and Vice Chair are elected by the Committee to serve two year terms.  The current Chairperson is the representative of the North Dakota Emergency Medical Services Association, with the representative from the North Dakota Information Technology serving as Vice-Chair.

Governance

​Earlier this year, the North Dakota Legislative Assembly provided enabling legislation that was a major step to begin the process of shaping and advancing public safety communications in our State.  It allows the SIEC to collectively transition from studying the viability of implementing a statewide solution to begin down the path of executing the vision.  The SIEC felt incumbent to first respond to key feedback that was gathered during the study, whereby the stakeholder community very clearly articulated;  1) a clear intent to engage and be part of the process, and 2) intent to be part of the solution and 3) the necessity of local communities having a voice in how the solution is built and managed.  In response to that feedback, the SIEC unanimously approved and stood up a comprehensive governing organization.  

In the past six months, the SIEC successfully stood up a SIRN focused subcommittee and sponsored the stand up of eight Coordinated Regional Interoperability Boards across the State, to include election of officers and initiation of meetings. 

Governance Program Guide (updated February 7, 2020)

Coordinated Regional Interoperability Boards