What Is a PACE Plan – And Do You Need One?

When planning for communication contingencies, it’s vital to create different levels of comms to account for unpredictable variables. Every agency will have a different needs according to the type of emergency they are responding to.

PACE (short for Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency) is a method used to build a communication plan for these types of scenarios. Today we’ll review the purpose of PACE plans, whom they serve and steps for creating an effective communication strategy.

What is the Purpose of a PACE Plan?

The U.S. military initially developed PACE to ensure reliable communications no matter the circumstances. In simplest terms, a PACE communication plan creates an established order of methods that streamline communication efforts in emergencies.

In addition, depending on your industry, your organization may need specific plans for different situations, activities, or partners.

While having a PACE plan does not guarantee that designated communication technologies will work in a disaster, it helps create continuity that enables key personnel to work together efficiently.

Rather than consider technical complications, PACE plans operate strictly on the order of communications should primary methods fail. In order words:

A PACE plan is not a:

Frequency plan, which details how to use specific radio frequencies
Band plan, which attempts to avoid signal interference
Channel plan, which specifies which channels (or blend of channels) will best reach the target audience
Deployment plan, which designs a roadmap for how to roll out procedures to participants

The PACE method determines which parties need to communicate and then identifies the four best methods of communication between those parties as technology degrades or becomes unavailable.

For maximum effectiveness, each communication method should be completely independent of the other methods.

What Types of Businesses Should Have a PACE Plan?

While originally conceived for military applications, PACE plans are also starting to become useful in other industries. PACE plans have proven to be effective for:

First responders
Public safety agencies and enterprises
Local governments (State – Local – Tribal – Territories – SLTT)
Enterprises / Businesses (Industry)

Steps for Creating a Pace Plan

Does your business have an Emergency Management and Communications Manager? If so, it’s their responsibility to develop PACE plans customized for your organization to ensure appropriate communication methods and infrastructure.

Once your business has created a general PACE plan, you must follow it with a more detailed operational plan. This revised plan will designate specific radio channels or satellite numbers to call in case of emergencies. An effective PACE Plan ensures everyone is on the same page regarding which technologies to use and in what order should communications systems fail.

Let’s review each PACE stage and an example of communication technology that could accompany it.

1. Primary

Your primary method of communication is typically the most effective and used for everyday comms. These typically include cell phones, landline phones, and internet connections.

2. Alternate

Alternate comms are effective but are slightly less convenient for everyday use. You can use alternate communication technologies alongside primary comms to ensure 24/7 readiness.

Blended connectivity helps teams navigate communication challenges by ensuring networks remain active during lapses during critical situations.

3. Contingency

Going down an additional level, contingency methods will be slower, more expensive and less convenient than primary or alternate methods.

IP Access’s RedPHONE is a phone that offers true off-grid communications. RedPHONE operates between satellite nodes and is routed over the IP Access SELECT Network. Over 1,700 RedPHONES have been deployed in over 600 agencies across the country, providing protection and operation when everything else is offline.

4. Emergency

Emergency methods are typically a last resort when primary, alternate and contingency means fail, as they have significant lag times, are expensive, and are more difficult to use.

However, IP Access’s SuperGIG technology is an all-in-one connectivity solution that aggregates multiple cellular and satellite networks into a single service. As a result, SuperGIG delivers the highest possible throughput and uninterrupted connectivity for mission-critical communications.

How Can IP Access Help With Creating an Effective PACE Plan?

Creating a reliable PACE program is a top priority if your business involves first responders, public safety agencies or local governments. But how?

If you’re in the dark about creating a PACE plan, training your employees, or implementing new technology, IP Access International can help. IP Access has delivered reliable communications connectivity since 1999. We have the resources both in-house and via industry relationships to help develop PACE plans to suit your needs.

As a leading rapid deployable satellite provider, we offer disaster-proof solutions to a wide range of customers, from government to enterprise.

Our FUSION technology seamlessly provides access to hybrid cellular and satellite internet systems, keeping businesses connected regardless of location or situation. In addition, we take pride in crafting fully-integrated combined cellular and satellite solutions for any technical requirement, deployable in minutes.