The Oregon Wireless Interoperability Network is following a mandate from the State Legislature to consolidate the state's four existing major radio networks and create a statewide "system of systems" for mission critical, public safety communications.

The existing radio systems for the Oregon State Police, the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Oregon Department of Corrections and the Oregon Department of Forestry are aging and badly in need of repair. Radio systems operated by public safety agencies in jurisdictions around the state are often incompatible. The technology is outdated. The OWIN project will upgrade the existing systems with an interoperability layer so emergency responders from different agencies and jurisdictions can talk to each other directly and immediately.