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13 <br /> prevent the need to build towers. He said in the next year's budget, they want to improve the <br /> paging system, but are focusing on at least being able to maintain the current system. <br /> Chair Price said she would like to see a cost comparison between a new, up to date <br /> paging system, and maintaining the current system. <br /> Chair Price asked if 5G technologies are still being discussed. <br /> Kirby Saunders said it is still developing. He said the county does not have full <br /> coverage yet so they would not feel comfortable expanding to that. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked if cell phone coverage would still be needed if the county <br /> had fiber coverage. <br /> Kirby Saunders said the study recommended 17 new towers, which is very high. He <br /> said the expansion of the VIPER system would likely need 4 or 5 towers. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked if the towers would be county owned. <br /> Kirby Saunders said these would be newly constructed towers, but they have not <br /> discussed private versus county owned towers. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said the Chapel Hill Carrboro City School System is being paid to <br /> put towers on its properties. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said it sounds like it would be helpful to take these first responder <br /> needs into consideration before an RFP is approved for fiber. <br /> Chief Cabe said fiber needs power, and all county fire stations have generators. He <br /> said he thought there might be a benefit to tying the fiber into the stations since they have <br /> consistent electricity. He said there may be a cost benefit in tying the radios and broadband <br /> needs together. He said no one wants a large ticket item that will only cover one need, and if <br /> the systems can be married together (data and communications) it would be a win-win. <br /> Jim Northrup said the current RFP does have a county ownership model, and the RFP <br /> scoring includes a weighted section if there is county ownership. He said they could include fire <br /> stations. <br /> Commissioner McKee said the broadband task force was interested in learning about <br /> these first responder needs, and, to his mind, it would be beneficial to have this be a combined <br /> effort to address personal and public needs. <br /> Chief Jamal Phillip Nasseri said White Cross has space for tower expansion, and has <br /> spoken with private companies. <br /> 4. Establishing a Length of Service Awards Program <br /> Chief Cabe made the following presentation: <br /> Slide #1 <br /> Recognition of Service <br /> 29 e: <br />