1, No "bidding" has taken place for a statewide system.
2. 700/800 is NOT being considered for a statewide system.
3.
http://www.dps.mo.gov/homelandsecurity/Communications.htm
4. The hybrid system that the SIEC is pursueing seems to me to be a valid
plan. The SIEC has worked hard to come up with a plan that works for both the
urban and rural areas of the state, and I personally feel that when all factors are
weighed, this plan will work. It gets just a bit cludgy around the urban/rural line, but
all in all I think it will work.
At the appropiations committee hearing it was pointed out that unlike many statewide
systems, it will be an open system (Different manufacturers will be able to make radios
for it) and it will have NO SUBSCRIBER FEES! It was stated by (I Believe) director James that the system would be so robust, so easy to utilize, that end users would WANT to use the system.
It is going to start out with MTAC base stations being deployed - I am bit leary of that part of the plan, but the actual statewide system should be very nice.
