wsmoore
I'm not sure if they moved over yet, I could be wrong. I know a few of the counties listed on the Third-Party Subscribers have not moved over. Okaloosa County is listed on there but has not moved yet. They were scheduled for 2009 but with the county tax cuts coming up for vote, many departments are re-evaluating there budgets. Okaloosa Sheriff was on the news tonight with concerns in his departments. I know the county will have to look at the cost of the new radios now that the county will be loosing tax payer dollars. The article stated all county agencies.
Below is a press release from Northwest Florida Daily News (09/01/06)
Officials in Okaloosa County, Fla., want to be able to communicate more effectively in emergencies by joining a statewide radio system. The system lets local and regional public safety groups communicate via a shared network statewide. However, the system must still deal with hurdles such as cost; Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Mike Coup estimates that the cost to buy radio units for 265 deputies would be roughly $530,000. Also, residents will no longer be able to listen to the communications. Dino Villani, Okaloosa County's public safety director, said the county's objective is to include all county agencies in the state's radio system by 2009. Currently, emergency workers, deputies, and other county workers rely on a variety of radio systems that do not communicate with each other. Some agencies have already joined the state system, such as the Florida Highway Patrol, which joined in 2003, said Maj. Steve Williams of the agency's technology and communications division. Okaloosa County 911 Coordinator Sylvia Womack said it is not mandatory that agencies take part in the state system, but those that do will experience improved communications and radio reception. Meanwhile, the state government has already constructed the radio towers and infrastructure needed by the county to participate in the state system, saving the county $10 million.