NS - Grant - Ratification of Application for Interoperable Communications Technology Grant

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5 emergency service units will not be able to be dispatched to 9-1-1 emergency calls on this system, nor will the dispatch center be able to receive information from those emergency responders, such as in cases oflife-threatening situations. Law enforcement agencies of the County, towns of Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Mebane, as well as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Police, and UNC Hospitals Police would directly benefit from these grant funds to create an interoperable communications system in the county, as well as all 11 fire departments in the county, Orange County Emergency Medical Services, Orange County Emergency Management, Orange County Rescue Squad, South Orange EMS and Rescue, and Orange County Public Health. The Public Safety agencies in the various communities making up the Research Triangle area who have been users of 800 MHz (Wake and Durham Counties) have a coordinating organization known as Triangle 800 MHz Emergency Network (TR8EN). This organization was established in the mid 1990's and coordinates interoperabilityhetween radio systems and PSAPs. TR8EN establishes standard mutual aid talkgroup assignments and operational procedures to insure interoperability. More recently, Orange, Person, and Chatham counties have become active in TR8EN. This grant will enable the MSA agencies to further the incorporation of the TR8EN interoperability to additional agencies not currently participating. The State of North Carolina is establishing a statewide voice radio network on 800 MHz known as the Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders network (VIPER network). This grant will greatly increase the ability of the participating counties to interoperate with state agencies via the VIPER Network. The events of recent years involving hurricanes and flooding in various areas of the state called for a high level of mutual aid, often far from home radio systems. The interoperability provided by the VIPER network has shown itself to be a valuable capability. This grant will result in many vital public safety resources having access to this interoperability network. B. Project Goals and Objectives Orange County wishes to transition to 800 MHz. The State of North Carolina 800 MHz statewide VIPER radio network will aid in this effort. The county has begun to acquire radios for use at 800 MHz. These will enable interoperability with the several 800 MHz Public Safety systems already serving agencies in adjacent counties, and with state law enforcement bodies. Impeding this transition, however, is that the Orange County Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) utilizes console equipment that is over 10 years old, and is obsolete. Additionally, the age of the equipment precludes patching between the various radio systems with 800 MHz. Funding is required to purchase new console equipment to reflect new technology and allowing our system to connect on the 800 MHz band. Once the upgrades are complete, the PSAP would be able to dispatch on 800 MHz. The current system is also not ANSUTIA/EIAA-102 Phase 1 (P25) compliant and is not compatible with the state's VIPER network. This drastically limits interoperability and would be a detriment in the event a disaster occurred that necessitated the use of mutual aid agencies external to the county. Person, Orange, and Chatham counties utilize various VHF and UHF frequencies within each county to provide communications for their Public Safety agencies. Additionally, due to the disparity of frequencies amongst the counties, it will be extremely difficult to achieve interoperability beyond their counties. The counties have historically provided strong mutual aid support between them and recognize the need for the interoperable communications equipment. While Durham County and Orange County wish to participate in this COPS grant, Person and Chatham counties have indicated an inability to participate. Much discussion has taken place over recent years considering means of improving interoperability within the MSA. However, budgetary constraints have prevented much improvement, especially in the more rural counties.