“Washington state’s Military Department Emergency Management Division has launched” the NorthWest Satellite Mutual Aid Radio Talk group, which “will provide interoperable emergency communications for state, federal and local responders in Washington, Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Wyoming,” reports Government Computer News. “… The service will provide interoperable push-to-talk radio and satellite phone service throughout the region that will not be affected by local terrestrial conditions.” It “is the fifth in a planned network of nine regional locally managed talk groups being set up throughout the country. Participants in any group also would be able to communicate with members of other regional talk groups being set up with the Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) service, as well as with a national pilot system being set up by the Homeland Security Department’s National Communications System.” [[1] View article]