12/28/2007 12:13:00 PM Email this article • Print this article
Converting communications system
Lynda James
Correspondent
Park County's Board of County Commissioners signed a participation agreement with Consolidated Communications Network of Colorado on Dec. 20. The agreement will allow emergency response agencies to use the state's digital trucked radio system infrastructure for intra-agency communications.
Park County Emergency Manager Lori Hodges said communications became a national issue after Sept. 11 because emergency responders to the Twin Towers could not communicate with each other due to agencies using different radio frequencies. Since then, the federal government has been providing money for state and local governments to convert their systems to a uniform 800 MHz digital radio system.
Commissioner John Tighe said the issue came home during response to the 2006 Platte Canyon School District hostage situation and death of Emily Keyes when Park County responders could not communicate efficiently with Jefferson County responders.
The state, and several counties that have mutual aid agreements with Park County, have already converted to the new system.
According to Hodges, Park County has received $300,000 from Homeland Security and is waiting for federal approval of another $600,000 from Public Safety Interoperable Communications to convert Park County's communication system. She said the county has received state approval and expects federal approval in the spring of 2008.
Once the money is received, Hodges said the county's communications department will be upgraded and radios will be bought for emergency responders, including law enforcement, fire protection and emergency medical services. She expects it will take until the spring of 2009 to complete the upgrade.
Hodges said with the new system, Park County will be able to communicate with other agencies on a statewide basis because the digital system has further range than the current wideband VHF system. Agencies on the new system will all use the same radio frequency.
Hodges said the county will also convert the current wideband VHF system to a narrowband VHF system because some agencies, including the United States Forest Service, will be using a narrowband VHF system.
Another advantage of having both systems is that if one system goes down for some reason, the other can be used as a backup.
The state already has several communication towers in or near the county that are on the digital system. Hodges said once Park County has been converted, an evaluation will be completed to determine if another tower or more equipment will be needed to provide continuous coverage throughout the county. She anticipates that a tower will be needed on Kenosha Pass.
Converting communications system
Lynda James
Correspondent
Park County's Board of County Commissioners signed a participation agreement with Consolidated Communications Network of Colorado on Dec. 20. The agreement will allow emergency response agencies to use the state's digital trucked radio system infrastructure for intra-agency communications.
Park County Emergency Manager Lori Hodges said communications became a national issue after Sept. 11 because emergency responders to the Twin Towers could not communicate with each other due to agencies using different radio frequencies. Since then, the federal government has been providing money for state and local governments to convert their systems to a uniform 800 MHz digital radio system.
Commissioner John Tighe said the issue came home during response to the 2006 Platte Canyon School District hostage situation and death of Emily Keyes when Park County responders could not communicate efficiently with Jefferson County responders.
The state, and several counties that have mutual aid agreements with Park County, have already converted to the new system.
According to Hodges, Park County has received $300,000 from Homeland Security and is waiting for federal approval of another $600,000 from Public Safety Interoperable Communications to convert Park County's communication system. She said the county has received state approval and expects federal approval in the spring of 2008.
Once the money is received, Hodges said the county's communications department will be upgraded and radios will be bought for emergency responders, including law enforcement, fire protection and emergency medical services. She expects it will take until the spring of 2009 to complete the upgrade.
Hodges said with the new system, Park County will be able to communicate with other agencies on a statewide basis because the digital system has further range than the current wideband VHF system. Agencies on the new system will all use the same radio frequency.
Hodges said the county will also convert the current wideband VHF system to a narrowband VHF system because some agencies, including the United States Forest Service, will be using a narrowband VHF system.
Another advantage of having both systems is that if one system goes down for some reason, the other can be used as a backup.
The state already has several communication towers in or near the county that are on the digital system. Hodges said once Park County has been converted, an evaluation will be completed to determine if another tower or more equipment will be needed to provide continuous coverage throughout the county. She anticipates that a tower will be needed on Kenosha Pass.
