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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: January 28, 2014 <br />SUBJECT: Tower Stu <br />DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />A) Radio Communication Tower and <br />System Infrastructure Upgrade <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 2 <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Jim Groves, 245 -6140 <br />1 <br />PURPOSE: To receive the findings from a study by Federal Engineering relating current radio <br />coverage and proposed enhancements to the radio infrastructure. <br />BACKGROUND: The State -owned Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders <br />(VIPER) 800 MHz Radio System has been used by Orange County emergency response <br />agencies for several years. During that time, several complaints have been raised by law <br />enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS) relating to coverage issues. This <br />study took a look at our existing coverage under the VIPER system, and provides several <br />suggestions for new tower sites to help improve coverage and building penetration. In addition, <br />the study looked at the VHF Paging coverage, and provides recommendations to consider for <br />improving VHF Paging coverage. The VHF paging system is used to activate pagers for fire <br />departments as well as EMS when there is an emergency call. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: This presentation is for informational purposes. Tower construction is <br />currently included in the Emergency Services Capital Investment Plan (CIP). Any action based <br />on the recommendations of this report will be presented to the Board at a regular meeting. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the presentation <br />for informational purposes. <br />