450 radio system looks for taxing district

[Thunderbolt]

PORTLAND, Oregon -- Umatilla and Morrow Counties may need a special taxing district to support the 450-megahertz radio system installed by the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program in 2004.

http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=86327&TM=68710.79

 

[jim202]

This yearly cost seems rather large, but we haven't been told what it covers.

Second issue that is more to the point is nothing was mentioned about the issue of narrow
banding the system. Unless I am wrong, this will have to be completed by 2013. How
will the cost of this narrow band migration be covered?

Jim

[FONT=TIMES NEW ROMAN, TIMES, SERIF]PORTLAND, Oregon -- Umatilla and Morrow Counties may need a special taxing district to support the 450-megahertz radio system installed by the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program in 2004.

http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=86327&TM=68710.79
[/FONT]

 

[morrowcounty]

The system is already narrow band.

$300,000 would be yearly operating cost and the rest for upgrades and radio replacements.

 

[icom1020]

Fire could go back to VHF and save a ton of money like they did across the river in Benton County, WA when they migrated off 800mhz.

The VHF system upgrade costs include
New mobiles and portables for all 5 fire agencies - Phase I purchase <$250,000
2 - 450 MHz links from Wallula $4,000 to $5,000
An upgrade to the microwave infrastructure, which has to be done regardless of system - $80,000

800 MHz On-going Maintenance Costs
There is a per month, per radio cost for each participating agency
Currently an agency with 75 radios would pay $25,200 annually
800 MHz Total Annual Service Fees
2006- $152,295
2007- $182,200
2008 (projected)- $200,875

VHF On-going Maintenance Costs

VHF Total Annual Service Fees
$15,000 annually to cover all agencies


800mhz Motorola portable-$3500
VHF Bendix King $750

800 Motorola mobile-$3000
VHF Kenwood Mobile-$500

A revision in the FCC ruling allowed agencies to stay with VHF systems
This allowed Emergency Service agencies to look at a number of issues:
System compatibility with other Emergency Service Agencies
Personnel Safety
Cost


Moving back to the VHF system addresses a number of issues

Moving to the VHF system puts us back into compatible communications with the majority of our mutual aid partners - no more patching, passing out portables, etc.

The infrastructure of the Benton Co WA, VHF system has been maintained all along

All current 800 MHz radios would have to be replaced with digital 800 MHz radios at a cost of approximately $3,000 per radio

The 800MHz system upgrade to digital is expected to cost at least $11 million
Up to $7 million will be funded by CSEPP
The remaining costs will be funded by agencies using the system

 

[oregontreehugger]

I'm surprised that the feds haven't stepped in to offer future funding. And why the CSEPP didn't go with a VHF high 150 MHz system to begin with is a little strange. Especially considering the rural areas served and the knowledge that eventually everything would be disposed of and the stockpile shut down. Oh well, tax dollars at work again...

 

[icom1020]

I think Washington counties have at least a 1/10th of 1% on sales tax on funding systems. Oregon is oregon. Not all of Umatilla Co is on the UHF system. Milton-Freewater has their own PSAP on VHF.