Monroe Project Description

David Schoenberger

Monroe Project Description

With demand for effective and rapid communication increasing in the past few decades, a problem has developed. Electronic communication systems are bulging at the seams—too many users are demanding access. Developers of these systems—whether computer, telephone, cable, or radio—must try to satisfy their users’ requests for more "bandwidth."

This problem has hit the public safety radio communications systems of large cities intensely. Populous cities require many agencies to provide services to their citizens. Many of these agencies rely on radio communication for efficiency. As more and more agencies come "online," the bandwidth (radio frequencies) already in place becomes inadequate. There are simply not enough frequencies to go around.

A technology known as trunking, introduced in the early 1980s, solves this problem. Trunking introduces computers into frequency management. In the past, every public safety agency in a city had its own frequency. A trunked system, using a central computer, allocates frequencies more efficiently by assigning frequencies as necessary. For example, if the water department does not require a frequency at a certain time, then that frequency is available to any agency that might need it. If the police department needs the frequency, it can use it. No agency has exclusive rights to a frequency. Therefore, the entire system is more flexible and efficient.

Many cities jumped at this revolutionary technology. There are numerous advantages: a single easy-to-manage radio system, improved radio spectrum use, improved coordination between agencies, and greatly reduced overall system cost and maintenance. For some cities, the choice to "go trunked" was obvious.

How have the systems been performing for the cities that have installed trunked systems? Is the technology necessary? Is the huge initial expenditure a good investment for municipalities? Most importantly, has public safety and service improved?

The Monroe Project will provide insight into these questions. The public safety radio systems of several large East Coast cities will be examined. A tentative list of cities includes: Boston, Hartford, Providence, New York, Newark, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Charlotte, Charleston, Atlanta, Orlando, and Miami. Some of these cities use trunked systems; some do not. In addition to examining the radio systems, interviews will be conducted. Interviews may be scheduled with dispatch supervisors, radio engineers, procurement personnel, and end users (police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, etc.).

There are three goals: to compare the radio systems of the cities, to analyze the impact of spending, and to analyze the impact of technology. The ultimate question: Is the public better served by these high-tech radio systems?

A report will detail the results of the project, and will be published on the Internet. In fact, a Web site for this project is already operational: http://davidschoenberger.net/monroe.