New Federal law could force changes in York Co. Energency Radio System

[jeepster89ltd]

This article appeared in the York Daily Record this week.

 

[K9WG]

Bistline said the county would have about a decade to replace the majority of its equipment for the radio system. And he estimates that would cost roughly $30 million.

But U.S. Rep. Todd Platts, R-York County, who voted in favor of the changes, said taxpayers and public safety agencies wouldn't be responsible for those costs of changing systems.

So, where is the money coming from? The government selling Girl Scout cookies to fund it? That has to be the most ignorant statement I have ever heard.... :roll:

 

[fourthhorseman]

where dose it come from,,

well,,i can imagine the fed reserve will happily transfer lots of 1s an 0's to the treasury,,,at a nice lil interest rate,of course...from there should get doled out to DHS and if you gotta good state rep youlll
be sure to bring home some of that for your state or district...

 

[jeepster89ltd]

Rep. Platts didn't run for office and is out as of the beginning of next year. The money should come from those who want to purchase the frequencies involved. I don't think that it will happen. so I guess the taxpayers of York County will foot the bill for the upgrade.

 

[ocguard]

The real question is, what frequencies will we move to? We used T-band because there just aren't enough 800mhz frequencies available to be licensed. If we move outside the UHF band altogether, it will require basically an ENTIRE system replacement (repeaters, antennas, subscriber equipment). It would also require a re-engineering of the system, since a different frequency band would provide different propagation and change the coverage footprints of the current system.

One of these days, I'll understand how the federal government will force public safety entities to change how they do business to cater to the private sector. We'll spend millions to change public safety communications so that Billy Thompson can have broadband access for Youtube and Scramble with Friends.