Public Safety Communications Commission

To provide a safe and effective transportation system.

To develop recommendations for policy and guidelines, identify technology and standards, and coordinate intergovernmental resources to facilitate statewide wireless communications interoperability with emphasis on public safety.

At the encouragement of Wyoming’s public safety community, the Wyoming Legislature recognized a need for a comprehensive and coordinated statewide emergency communications network and established Wyoming’s Public Safety Communications Commission (PSCC or the Communications Commission) effective July 1, 2004 (established through W.S. 9-2-1101). 

The creation of the PSCC occurred at a time when federal funding for public safety communications peaked following the 9/11 incidents.  Initially, the PSCC was assigned to the Department of Homeland Security. 

Over the years, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) has primarily completed the field implementation of PSCC policy.  Today, most of the previous federal funding for public safety communications has been greatly reduced.  State general funds and other WYDOT funding support the Communications Commission and inter-operative emergency communications in our state.  

In 2017, W.S. 9-2-1102 was amended and, as a result, re-organized the Communications Commission.  The changes in legislation transferred administrative support responsibilities from the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security to WYDOT — thereby improving oversight and accountability of the agency actually implementing the program, reducing the use of general funds, and stabilizing the program overall.  

The amendments also streamlined the voting members of the Commission from seventeen to eleven and added the WYDOT director as an ex-officio member.  The goal of this change was to improve local government presence, including representation from municipal government, county government, police chiefs, county sheriffs, fire chiefs, tribal representatives, and improved ambulance and medical service representation.

Additional amendments were made in 2022 with the passage of Senate File 0041 (SEA No. 38). This legislation gave the PSCC advisory authority over the development, implementation, and operation of next generation 911 (NG911) systems. The Commission is responsible for promoting the expansion of NG911 in the state. Furthermore, these amendments added two voting members to the Commission, one each the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, and the Wyoming Association of Public Safety Communications Officials/National Emergency Numbers Association (APCO/NENA)   — increasing the total number of commissioners from eleven to thirteen.

The Public Safety Communications Commission consists of 13 voting members, each appointed by the Governor, with the Director of the Wyoming Department of Transportation serving as an ex officio, non-voting member.  Appointees are comprised of representatives from the following public safety agencies, professional associations, and state departments:

1)    The Wyoming Police Chief’s Association

2)    The Wyoming Sheriff’s Association

3)    The Division of Criminal Investigation, Office of the Attorney General

4)    The Wyoming Game and Fish Department

5)    The Wyoming Department of Transportation (someone overseeing technology or telecommunications systems)

6)    Wyoming Fire Chief’s Association

7)    The Public at Large

8)    An Ambulance and Emergency Medical Services Organization

9)    The Wyoming Association of Municipalities (or another municipal government association)

10)  The Wyoming County Commissions Association (or another county government association)

11)  Tribal Government or Tribal Government Association

12) The Association of Public Safety Communications Officials or the National Emergency Number Association

13) The Wyoming Office of Homeland Security

The Public Safety Communication’s Commission provides policy-level direction related to planning, designing, and implementing best practices and standard approaches to address Wyoming’s public safety communications interoperability issues. 

The Commission’s structure is designed to foster collaboration among stakeholders at the local and state level.  They recommend strategies for improving Wyoming’s wireless interoperability, determine WyoLink network standards, identify short-term and long-term technological and policy solutions that tie existing infrastructure together into an interoperable system, and develop recommendations for legislation or other state action which may be required to further promote wireless interoperability in Wyoming.  Further, the Communications Commission receives applications from potential new users that want to connect to the WyoLink network. 

The 2022 amendments to the duties and powers of the PSCC in SEA No. 38 added oversight respsonbilities for NG911. The Comission shall, in an advisory capacity, promote NG911 system development through the creation of "guidelines and standards for the development, implementation and operation of next generation 911 emergency communications systems and interoperable public safety communications and data systems in the state" (W.S. 9-2-1104). The Commission shall also promulgate the necessary rules and regulations governing the NG911 system and its operation. 

Kimberly Chapman
Commission Secretary
5300 Bishop Blvd.
Cheyenne, WY  82009
(307) 777-4015