Virginia county gives Motorola disputed 800MHz system contract
Fauquier County, VA, has approved a $7.2 million contract for a new Motorola 800MHz Astro digital trunked wireless communications system.
The process of selecting a new system began almost five years ago. The choice of 800MHz instead of 150MHz and the selection of Motorola as a vendor were marked by objections from county residents and the Web-based FauquierNews.com.
FauquierNews.com reported that George Tolis, a resident of the county, objected to the county board of supervisors that an 800MHz system requires more sites than a 150MHz system; that FCC approval was lacking for most of the sites proposed by Motorola; that the 800MHz system would have limited system capacity and expansion potential; that it would be evaluated under ambiguous and watered-down test procedures, and that the contract had no price protection for changes that may be imposed by a possible reallocation of frequencies in the 800MHz band to mitigate radio interference.
Through articles published in local press, Tolis scored the county government for approving a late-stage $500,000 price increase for the 800MHz system. The county had given vendors a list of existing towers that it said could be used at no cost. Just prior to the contract signing, it was discovered that the towers were not available rent-free, and the county budgeted an additional $500,000 for the purchase of a tower.
Jim Borland, editor of FauquierNews.com, said that the county cannot be assured of licenses for all of the targeted 800MHz frequencies because, through a coordination error, some already are used by nearby jurisdictions. He said a county resident, on his own initiative, had already paid for the engineering, coordination and licensing of a suitable set of 150MHz frequencies.
Borland has criticized the county government for withholding from public view key parts of the Motorola contract that he said cover some of the financial risks.
FauquierNews.com reported that the 150MHz system would cost about $3 million to $4 million, and had estimated the 800MHz system as initially proposed would cost as much as $12 million to build and as much as $20 million over the system’s projected useful life. It faulted the county for not conducting a radio traffic study and took the position that the originally proposed 10-channel 800MHz system’s capacity would far exceed the county’s needs—for an excessive price.
A statement released by Motorola explains that the new installation “will enable county public safety agencies to communicate with each other over a shared system. It also will enable county agencies to communicate with many jurisdictions in adjoining counties that currently use similar systems.
“Initially, the new system will be used by the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, the Office of Emergency Services and Fauquier Fire and Rescue Association, which together provide fire and rescue services to county residents. Other agencies may be added in the future,” Motorola’s statement continues.
Tony Hooper, Fauquier County’s assistant administrator and the project manager for the new system said that the system would provide improved radio coverage throughout the county.
“The system also will provide the county with a vital link to many adjoining public safety agencies in Loudoun and Prince William counties, and other northern Virginia communities. With so many emergencies today requiring multi-agency response, this capability is crucial in delivering the mission- critical services our residents require,” Hooper said.
Motorola said that its 800MHz system would include six channels and five sites. The company will use simulcast technology in an effort to cover the county’s hilly and heavily wooded terrain. The systems’ repeaters, microwave system, alarm and control subsystem, generators and other power management equipment will be installed at existing county tower sites.
Initially, about 200 mobile two-way radios and 250 portable two-way radios will be used by the county on the new system. Five new Motorola Centracom Elite control consoles will be installed at the Warrenton Fauquier Joint Communications Center. An additional position is planned for a system back-up center.
Installation is supposed to be completed within the next two years. Motorola will provide a variety of training for the users.
“This new system brings a powerful communications capability to Fauquier County and its public safety agencies, one that has the technological capacity and flexibility to serve the county for years to come,” said Craig Leonard, Motorola area sales manager.
