Delaware emergency radio fix comes to $10 million

By D.L. Bonar, Staff writer

DOVER - The price of bringing Delaware's 800 MHz emergency radio communications system into full operation is expected to cost taxpayers as much as $10 million more.

The new system, which industry officials hail as the most modern that money can buy, has already cost $52 million but leaves many fire and police personnel without radio coverage inside buildings.

Last week, officials from Motorola Radio Communications began installing the equipment needed to correct coverage problems that had left emergency officials scratching their heads in frustration when the new system did not work.

Emergency channels were installed along with an "intelli-repeater" at the Rehoboth Beach Fire Department, giving the city five channels with which to communicate on the system.

"Now that we have the system up and working in Rehoboth Beach, we will be moving to Hartly as soon as this week to correct their problems," said Richard R. Reynolds, a member of the telecommunications team at the Delaware Office of Information Services.

Mr. Reynolds said nine radio frequencies have been found to aid with outside coverage areas that were inadequate. Five were installed with the repeater in Rehoboth Beach and four are allocated to be used in Hartly.

"New Castle County will be more difficult," Mr. Reynolds said Tuesday. "We believe there are several channels which will be able to be used, and with the repeaters Motorola will install, we think the outside coverage problems will be alleviated."

Mr. Reynolds said the General Assembly's bond bill committee was advised earlier this year that an additional allocation of as much as $10 million would be needed for the state to come into complete coverage under the 800 MHz system.

"This is not going to be an easy fix,'' he said. ''It will take additional funds and additional tower sites to gain the in-building coverage which is needed for emergency radio communications. I told the bond bill committee that when we met last spring.''

The estimates are not complete, but one of the first to help with the inside coverage in New Castle County is being prepared by Wireless Communications Inc.

Mr. Reynolds said some of the larger buildings in Wilmington do not have efficient in-building 800 MHz coverage. One such building is the Hotel DuPont, Mr. Reynolds said, but he expects that to be corrected rather quickly.

"With the Republican Party Convention coming to Philadelphia, I suspect there will be some added pressure to ensure that building is covered with the 800 MHz system," Mr. Reynolds said.

Thousands of convention delegates and top business and political figures are sure to attend the convention next year and Delaware officials have made great efforts to ensure the facilities in Wilmington and the surrounding area are part of lodging plans.

The issue of radio frequencies has drawn criticism from at least one member of a Federal Communications Commission subcommittee.

"When it comes to correcting these problems, each state is allocated only a certain number of radio channels," said Dr. Michael Trahos, of Alexandria, Va., who serves on a regional emergency radio committee covering Maryland and Virginia.

"These frequencies can't be swapped like trading cards. The effects of their use has to be tested, evaluated and signed-off on by the different committees,'' Dr. Trahos said. ''It must then be approved by the FCC, so the process will not take place overnight."

"If there is any stumbling block to our completing this system efficiently and quickly, it is (the FCC)," Mr. Reynolds said.

Dr. Trahos said the fix to the system in Rehoboth Beach isn't complete and is likely to be in a state of flux for some time.

"We are going to pursue the compatibility of these radio frequencies to ensure there is no overlap," Dr. Trahos said.

"These are not permanent solutions. It is going to require a very long and protracted resolution process."

D.L. Bonar can be reached at 741-8228 or dbonar@newszap.com

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