Palo Pinto County ESD #1 Applications Explained
Hi Folks,
Indeed, the rash of apps, STAs returned, dismissed, etc. HAS been a confusing thread. Bottom line is the ESD#1 is constructing a new 5 site, linked VHF conventional analog system for Fire, EMS, and Emergency Management purposes. We re-purposed several under-used frequencies that were licensed to "Palo Pinto, County of", but since the Palo Pinto County Emergency Services District #1 is a separate entity, new coordination and licensing was required.
The STA filings were initially dismissed, re-submitted, then returned again...due to numerous technical reasons, all of which were eventually corrected. We are currently operating under the STA while various "Letters of Concurrence" were being obtained, and while a great deal of testing happens. The final LOC required has since been obtained, and the application for the actual license was accepted by FCC on 4/30. It has already cleared several reviews, and to the best of our knowledge is in the final approval stage for grant status. At least we HOPE so!
To address a couple of questions mentioned earlier: . No, the ESD #1 has nothing to do with the various other ESDs that were/are seeking voter approval for establishment within Palo Pinto County. ESD#1 is the entity that collects ad valorem taxes county-wide, distributing and funding all of the County VFDs. This new communications system was constructed for their benefit. It ties all 5 sites together via full-duplex UHF terrestrial links to form what we are calling "FIRENET". A user simply selects the closest site or best signal to him, then his transmissions are heard through ALL of the other sites simultaneously. It is specifically designed for HELD HELD radios, given their relative lack of ERP and consequent range. We also have the ability to separate any site from the network into a stand-alone mode, OFF of the linked arrangement, should tactical needs or multiple incident response dictate.
The other reason we didn't utilize the existing "Palo Pinto, County of" licenses was to legally enable all of this system linking, placing the entire operation under one authorization.
The last two sites will become operational in the next few weeks, hopefully about the same time the final grant of authority to operate is issued. Right now, we are still in test mode, with no subscribers on the system. About the only thing you will hear on any of the frequencies in the sound of my boring voice, talking to myself on one radio, while listening on another, doing range testing from just about every location across the county.
Hope the above is informative. Feel free to ask any questions!
Thanks,
Mike Simpson
Communications Coordinator
Palo Pinto County Emergency Management
Palo Pinto County Emergency Services District #1
