County looks at changes in communication
Sarah Day — Staff WriterBLUE EARTH - Faribault County is making headway in figuring out what it needs to upgrade its communication.
Communication radio systems need to convert from analog - what much of the state operates on - to narrowband. The Federal Communications Commission is requiring entities with radio frequencies for communication to upgrade by 2013.
The county doesn't yet know what kind of narrowband radio system it will switch to, but 800 megahertz and digital narrowband are the most prominent options.
This week, the sheriff's office hosted two meetings - one in Wells and one in Blue Earth - for services such as fire, ambulance, public safety, utilities, school transportation and cities to learn how the process is going to work.
All of these entities utilize radios to communicate, though the system is currently not as efficient as it should be.
Deputy Terry Campbell is working on the upgrade and said the meetings this week were to get everyone on the same page.
Campbell said the coverage in the county isn't good. It uses a couple kinds of systems, including "voting" systems in cities like Minnesota Lake, Elmore and Wells.
"It's a Band-Aid to put on our system to improve coverage in certain areas," he said. "They help transmit and receive. Radio coverage in the county is poor."
The state hired Federal Engineering to help different areas - including Faribault County - convert.
"Interoperability is the big push," Campbell said. "We need to find the most cost-effective way to get there - that's gonna be the best for our county."
He doesn't yet know what's best for the county, and that's why they're working with Federal Engineering. The consultant will give them costs and options.
Dennis Hausman, senior consultant, spoke at the meeting Thursday.
Hausman wants to develop a cost model of the options for a 10-year period, which will show the pros and cons of the choices.
"Our job is to make sure they have all the information," Hausman said.
He addressed the concern that the FCC might "narrow down" the narrowband by 2018.
"Is that going to happen? I don't know," he said. "I have to tell you it's a possibility."
Hausman asked if Faribault County is working with other counties on the upgrades. The sheriff's office said it is trying to get its cities that frequently go across county lines to be included in other counties' discussions.
"Of all the counties I've been to, this county has responded by number much better than any other county," Hausman said. "You guys are doing it right. Some of the others just don't seem to get it."
Hausman asked if there is anyone they can't communicate with. Rick Mauris, Winnebago ambulance service representative, said there isn't, but they have to change frequencies a lot since they do transports to Mankato, Fairmont, Blue Earth and Rochester. Blue Earth Police Chief Dean Vereide said the city public works uses a UHF signal, so the two can't communicate at all because the rest of the county operates on VHF.
Hausman asked what they need in a system.
Todd Enger, Winnebago fire chief, said the new system needs to be able to work in river bottoms.
Winnebago Police Chief Bob Toland said that when the county switched to a voting system, it lost redundancy.
Sheriff Mike Gormley said another problem is interior building coverage.
"There is no reception in buildings," he said.
Hausman asked if the cities have a building code requirement for new buildings to add an amplifier, which they don't. He said where he lives it has been required since the 1980s.
"In building a new building it's reasonably inexpensive," he said. "If it is saving somebody's life it's really cheap."
Hausman asked about the county's future, and if there is anything Federal Engineering should know.
"Money's tight," Toland said.
"It's tough to keep up with unfunded federal mandates," Enger added.
An issue came up with operating on one frequency. Mike Blumenschein, assistant Blue Earth fire chief, said it's rare to have two scenes going at once. If two scenes are going, each department has to wait its turn for communication time.
"We haven't had a lot of problems with that," Blumenschein said. "I could see there could be room for improvement."
A larger concern that came up was what other counties plan to do. One option is to go to an 800 MHz communication system, while another is digital narrowband. The concern is if, for example, a neighboring county were to go to 800 MHz and Faribault County went to a digital system, could the two communicate?
Hausman said the statewide ARMER system - Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response - is looking at putting an "interoperable layer" on so that wouldn't be an issue.
Campbell said no decisions can be made until the federal analysis is done. Some is already done, and the next phase is a user survey. Campbell anticipates the analysis being completed sometime after Jan. 1.
