The Associated Press State & Local Wire

August 11, 1999

265 words

Motorola agrees to fix state radio problems

    Motorola has agreed to fix problems with the state's $ 50 million radio communications system, Gov. Thomas Carper announced Tuesday.  Coverage problems have plagued the system near Hartly, Rehoboth, Brandywine Hundred, Claymont and Hockessin.

    Tests performed by Motorola found low signal levels in the five areas.  Motorola has agreed to install signal repeaters, amplifiers and use various programming options to provide stronger signals in those areas, the governor's office said.

    In some cases, officers were unable to talk with their base station because their hand-held units were automatically switched to the New Castle County Emergency Reporting Center through digital signaling.

    The 800 MHz radio system was installed in Delaware during the past year and is described as state-of-the-art. Motorola is preparing to install a similar, but much larger system in the Philadelphia area which will cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

    "Motorola has committed to fixing these problems and using their own money to do so," Carper said. "After spending more than $50 million on this project, Delaware taxpayers should expect no less."

    State police, New Castle County Police, the Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association, and various local police agencies have worked with the company to define the problems.

    "The plan appears to be a positive approach to solving these outage problems," said Col. Jack Cunningham of the New Castle County police department. "While the proof will be in the pudding, I have confidence now that we are looking at the end of these problems."

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