Agenda - 11-17-2011 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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History October 27, 2003 VIPER included in the Capital Investment Plan August 8, 2004 Final VIPER Analysis Report (Consolidated Communications Network Design) May 17, 2005 Approved Grant funding for (147) new 800 MHz portable radios August 16, 2005 Approval of Regional Grant Application (Durham & Orange) March 2, 2006 Accept COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Grant Program Award January 23, 2007 Acceptance of Grant Allocation from the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program V/PER Radio Limitations Quote from the MMA Report, "Assessment of the Current, Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services Delivery System, May 3, 2011" "The VIPER radio system is an essential element of Orange County emergency services system. The radios system's configuration has limitations. Several Vo{unteer fire agencies reported "dead spots" where radio reception and transmission are not possible. The VIPER radio system uses the 800 MHz band. Radio frequencies in the 800 MHz band width do not penetrate buildings effectively. Building penetration refers to the reception and transmission from handheld radios operating within buildings. Dead spots and poor building penetration place responders at risk when operating under emergency conditions." Possible VIPER Solutions System Coverage -The percent of the area served (Orange County) by a radio system where a user can have radio reception and transmission whether using a mobile radio or a handheld radio. The current system does not produce 100% coverage -there are "dead spots". Attached is the "Final Viper Analysis Report" that lists VIPER tower sites (page 12) serving Orange County. All tower sites recommended in Table 3-1, page 12 have been constructed. To solve the coverage issue construction of new towers in strategic locations is required. It will take approximately one year to permit a new tower. The estimated cost of a new tower is $750,000 to $1,000,000 each. Orange County is likely to need two or more new towers. System Capacity -how many different calls can the radio system handle at once. When all of the channels are busy, the user gets a busy signal which comes across the radio as a "bonk". The capacity of the radio system is limited by the tower site with the least number of channels on the tower. The VIPER radio system is a state-wide shared radio system. The number of state-wide users continues to increase, with both the Sheriffs Department and Alamance County having come on line in the last year. Within the next 12-24 months, Person County will expand its VIPER use as well as increases in capacity occurring in Alamance County. The VIPER system is a broadcasting system, in many cases sending the same message to multiple