By Jim Hook, Public Opinion
Original publication date: April 28, 2011

Chambersburg, Pa. — Franklin County’s digital emergency communications system is in full operation, but the county will continue to simultaneously use the older analog system.

All emergency responders — except Letterkenny Army Depot Fire Department and 20 of the 22 municipalities — are operating on the new system, according to Bryan Stevenson, emergency communications coordinator for Franklin County.

The system allows police, fire, ambulance and municipalities to talk directly to each other on the radio without having to rely on the 911 dispatcher to act as a bridge.

A handheld portable radio in one part of the county can reach another portable across 96 percent of the county, according to Stevenson. The previous coverage was about 75 percent for the county’s low-band system, even when using the more powerful mobile units mounted in vehicles.

“This system works even where cell phones don’t,” Commissioner Bob Ziobrowski said in a prepared statement.

“Radio interoperability will allow the responders and municipalities to be able to work closely during emergencies to improve services to the citizens,” Commissioner Robert Thomas said in a prepared statement.

Ben Rice, Franklin County assistant communications director, reported to commissioners Thursday that the county’s new radio system is fully tested, operational and integrated to accept future technology.

The system reads alerts from panic buttons on the portable radios held by police, fire and ambulance personnel. An injured firefighter or downed police officer can activate the button for help. A number on each radio identifies the owning organization. Dispatchers will know the general area because of the emergency. In the future, the radios can be equipped with geographical (GIS) locators.

Equipment in the 911 center can be upgraded.

“The system will allow us to integrate technology, such as text messaging and digital photographs as the standards are set and the equipment becomes available,” Stevenson said.

During the Virginia Tech shooting several years ago “many students attempted to text to the 9-1-1 center that there was a shooting in progress,” he said. “Unfortunately, the technology to accept that information was unavailable and the messages were not delivered.”

The system allows the responders from Franklin County to communicate directly with responders from neighboring counties and across the state.

The cost of the county’s system jumped from $2.7 million in 2003 to $6.9 million when the county switched to a different technology in the middle of the project.

The county had counted on a UHF signal, but the Federal Communications Commission, overrun with requests, assigned former television broadcast frequencies to the county.

Commissioners gave $415,000 to police, fire and rescue agencies to compensate them for upgrading to the final system.

“Our emergency responders need the best tools available to provide for the safety of our citizens,” Commissioner David Keller said. “Lives will be saved because of this investment.”

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