Agenda - 11-06-2014 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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11 1 Matthew Mauzy (South Orange Rescue Squad -SORS) said his department has 2 experienced the same problems as everyone else. He said they have especially had issues at 3 large events such as UNC football games. He said troopers coming in for a large event are 4 tuned to their local stations, and this causes the tower utilization to skyrocket. He said this 5 presents a problem when trying to transmit calls from the event venue. 6 Matthew Mauzy said this is the time to evaluate what the most responsible way to go 7 with this. 8 Commissioner Price said she attended a meeting of the North Carolina Association of 9 County Commissioners (NCACC) and saw a presentation about First Net. She asked about 10 this. 11 Matthew Mauzy said First Net is the next coverage beyond a national radio system. He 12 said this brings in other types of communication, such as video. He said this is not very 13 applicable as a replacement for radio coverage. He said it is something to keep an eye on, but 14 it will not meet their communication needs in the next five years. 15 Commissioner Price asked about the use of 4G cell phones by first responders. 16 Jeff Cabe said using a cell phone would work well for EMS or law enforcement, but it is 17 not practical for firefighters in a full turnout gear and a heated room. He said his question is 18 what model can be followed and function in emergency situations when the power has been out 19 for two weeks. He said this is even an issue with VIPER when the power goes out at the center 20 in Raleigh. 21 He said it would be great to be able to communicate with other areas, but Orange 22 County is a lower tier. He said this means if an emergency occurs, the higher tiers will take 23 channels from them. He said the County needs a system that allows for the ability to talk with 24 the call center and each other in the event of an emergency. 25 Commissioner Pelissier said she and Commissioner Price were under the impression 26 that First Net would solve all of their problems with VIPER. She asked if the options being 27 considered will fit in with First Net in the long run. She said it was her understanding that 28 everyone would be using First Net in the future. 29 Dan Jones said the First Net presenters seem to be using the same marketing concept 30 that VIPER used. He said at this time this technology is still conceptual, and he has not heard 31 anything about how the hardware will work and who will build the infrastructure. He said until 32 there is more information about what First Net is and how it ties into the local systems he would 33 not want to plan their future around this. 34 Commissioner Gordon asked what would be needed to build a radio system to address 35 the problems. She asked about the method for interoperability. She said this is an urgent issue 36 because of the possibility of unforeseen disasters, and public health and safety communications 37 are critical. 38 Bonnie Hammersley said Jim Groves has already done some work on suggestions for 39 the replacement of the VI PER system. She said it will be important to have input from all of the 40 fire departments moving forward in the decision making process. She said at the next Board of 41 County Commissioners meeting there will be discussion about this process of moving away 42 from the VIPER system. 43 Jim Groves said First Net is just a public private relationship using existing infrastructure 44 and making it a little more resilient to give more coverage in certain areas. He said this is really 45 just a wireless broadband type network. He said only phones with a special chip can be used 46 on the system, and this will require a fee. 47 Jeff Cabe said he would not completely abandon the VIPER system, as it does have 48 some benefits across the state. He said the County needs something to merge with it or 49 piggyback onto it.