diff --git a/coordinator/iocontrol.lua b/coordinator/iocontrol.lua
index 0b93302..25f2616 100644
--- a/coordinator/iocontrol.lua
+++ b/coordinator/iocontrol.lua
@@ -34,18 +34,10 @@ local HIGH_RTT = 1500   -- 3.33x as long as expected w/ 0 ping
 local iocontrol = {}
 
 ---@class ioctl
-local io = {}
-
--- initialize front panel PSIL
----@param firmware_v string coordinator version
----@param comms_v string comms version
-function iocontrol.init_fp(firmware_v, comms_v)
+local io = {
     ---@class ioctl_front_panel
-    io.fp = { ps = psil.create() }
-
-    io.fp.ps.publish("version", firmware_v)
-    io.fp.ps.publish("comms_version", comms_v)
-end
+    fp = { ps = psil.create() }
+}
 
 -- initialize the coordinator IO controller
 ---@param conf facility_conf configuration
@@ -290,6 +282,14 @@ end
 -- toggle heartbeat indicator
 function iocontrol.heartbeat() io.fp.ps.toggle("heartbeat") end
 
+-- report versions to front panel
+---@param firmware_v string coordinator version
+---@param comms_v string comms version
+function iocontrol.fp_versions(firmware_v, comms_v)
+    io.fp.ps.publish("version", firmware_v)
+    io.fp.ps.publish("comms_version", comms_v)
+end
+
 -- report presence of the wired comms modem
 ---@param has_modem boolean
 function iocontrol.fp_has_wd_modem(has_modem) io.fp.ps.publish("has_wd_modem", has_modem) end
diff --git a/coordinator/startup.lua b/coordinator/startup.lua
index 4c4233d..125609c 100644
--- a/coordinator/startup.lua
+++ b/coordinator/startup.lua
@@ -136,8 +136,8 @@ local function main()
     -- system startup
     ----------------------------------------
 
-    -- report versions/init fp PSIL
-    iocontrol.init_fp(COORDINATOR_VERSION, comms.version)
+    -- report versions
+    iocontrol.fp_versions(COORDINATOR_VERSION, comms.version)
 
     -- init renderer
     renderer.configure(config)
diff --git a/reactor-plc/startup.lua b/reactor-plc/startup.lua
index 92fbde2..324cb68 100644
--- a/reactor-plc/startup.lua
+++ b/reactor-plc/startup.lua
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ local function main()
     -- startup
     ----------------------------------------
 
-    -- record firmware versions and ID
+    -- report versions and ID
     databus.tx_versions(R_PLC_VERSION, comms.version)
     databus.tx_id(config.UnitID)
 
diff --git a/rtu/startup.lua b/rtu/startup.lua
index aed0932..322a9ae 100644
--- a/rtu/startup.lua
+++ b/rtu/startup.lua
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ local function main()
     -- startup
     ----------------------------------------
 
-    -- record firmware versions and ID
+    -- report versions
     databus.tx_versions(RTU_VERSION, comms.version)
 
     -- mount connected devices
diff --git a/supervisor/startup.lua b/supervisor/startup.lua
index 43d6003..1601f20 100644
--- a/supervisor/startup.lua
+++ b/supervisor/startup.lua
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ local function main()
     -- startup
     ----------------------------------------
 
-    -- record firmware versions and ID
+    -- report versions
     databus.tx_versions(SUPERVISOR_VERSION, comms.version)
 
     -- mount connected devices