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1 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: December 13, 2011 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. S -d <br />SUBJECT: Review of the VIPER (Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders) <br />Original Design and Implementation and Strategies to Improve Coverage and <br />Capacity <br />DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services, County PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Manager <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />11 /17/11 Meeting Abstract -Review of the <br />VIPER (Voice Interoperability Plan for <br />Emergency Responders) Original <br />Design and Implementation and <br />Strategies to Improve Coverage and <br />Capacity <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />F. R. Montes de Oca, Emergency <br />Services Director, 245-6100 <br />Michael Talbert, Assistant County <br />Manager, 245-2308 <br />PURPOSE: To implement a plan to improve the original VIPER (Voice Interoperability Plan for <br />Emergency Responders) system installation by expanding both coverage and capacity of the <br />system. <br />BACKGROUND: By 2001 Orange County began discussions with the public safety community <br />and started planning for the implementation of VIPER. In 2003 the VIPER system first <br />appeared in the County Capital Investment Pfan and by 2009 the system switchover occurred <br />with the exception of the Sheriffs Department. In early 2011 the Sheriff's Department's radios <br />were installed and all Orange County public safety agencies are using VIPER. <br />The VIPER radio has been installed as designed and is functioning well but is not perfect. The <br />system, like any other digital communication system, is in need of expansion as the state-wide <br />system grows and technology upgrades as the technology is constantly changing and <br />improving. The current VIPER system does not produce 100% coverage -there are "dead <br />spots". <br />At a work session on November 17, 2011, the Board discussed coverage, capacity and building <br />penetration issues in Orange County. There was consensus that the County needs to make <br />improvements and upgrades to the VIPER system. Orange County does not have the technical <br />expertise to evaluate coverage and capacity issues with the VIPER system. A technical <br />analysis is required to provide accurate information to solve the coverage and capacity <br />deficiencies. A coverage and capacity assessment will provide the County with analysis of <br />present coverage, suggestions for upgrades of existing sites, and additional locations for <br />supplemental sites to increase the coverage to an acceptable level. <br />