CALCORD is the California On-Scene Coordination Frequency, 156.075 MHz (yep, in the maritime freq band...ah well)... Thank you to Don Root and Kirk J. Smith for your assistance California On-Scene Emergency Coordination Radio Plan (CALCORD) Description The California On-Scene Emergency Coordination System is established to provide common radio frequencies to be used statewide by state and local Public Safety and Special Emergency agencies during periods of man-made or natural disasters or other emergencies where interagency coordination is required. It operates under appropriate Federal Communications Commission Rules and Regulations and is administered by the State of California through the Office of Emergency Services. The Office of Emergency Services Telecommunications Advisory Committee exercises general supervision and disciplinary control. Eligibility Participation in CALCORD is open to all California Local Government agencies which are eligible to operate on radio frequencies authorized by the Federal Communications Commission for the Public Safety Radio Services. In addition, the CALCORD channel may be placed in certain ambulances operating in the Special Emergency Radio Service. This must be under the authority of a city or county participating in CALCORD, and having an ordinance or code which provides for control over the ambulance(s) in which the channel is installed. Calcord Utilization CALCORD will be used in mobile and portable units at the scene of any emergency incident requiring coordinate action by more than one agency. These agencies must be eligible to operate in the Public Safety or Special Emergency Radio Services. It is intended that this System be used to facilitate communications when the Incident Command System is used. Use of this System will be limited to emergency operations only, with the exception of tests and drills. <<end quotes>> Hopefully that clears things up a bit for people. Interagency only (not intraagency), emergencies only, all public safety (police, fire, etc) and ambulances generally under EMS contract (public or private). A VERY good idea, and a very underused (at least in San Luis Obispo County) channel. ______ and... Re: CALCORD and that unnamed 'S' county approximately north of Tehama County. A number of years ago I was shocked when I heard them using it quite obviously as a secondary channel with a full power base station. It was being used to run 28's and as a tac channel, quite contrary to OES's terms of operation, which are quite specific. I understand they were ordered to desist operation. (I'm being polite here) Unfortunately it has taken quite awhile for CALCORD to become adopted and usage is still spotty. Since it is not possible to determine users by license data, only by monitoring or by checking with the respective agencies can it be determined if they have CALCORD capability. CHP handhelds have CALCORD. A good time to listen is when there is a heli-evac from the freeway. Washington state has a similar channel called OSCCR (On-Scene Command & Coordination Radio) on 156.135. Responding to a similar inquiry about CLEMARS: CLEMARS is the California Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Radio System and is licensed to the state and administered by OES. Channels include 154.920, 154.935 (low-power), 155.475, 460.025 as well as low-band and 800 MHz channels. Uses are classified and prioritized. Some channels, like 154.920 and 460.025, may be used on a regular daily basis as a secondary channel, but the channel must be relinquished to mutual aid users. (There is no similar authorization for regular daily use of the CALCORD frequency.)