Michigan jurisdictions ‘happy’ with VESTA Radio for regional P25 system, prepare for ISSI interoperability

The VESTA P25 system cost DMA between $8 million to $10 million, including new Motorola APX-series subscribers, according to Heck. Funding for the project came from all 16 of DMA’s member jurisdiction, he said.

“In the Downriver Mutual Aid district, the 16 cities dedicate their 911 surcharge dollars to maintain their radio and 911 networks, so the 16 communities—their mayors and all of those folks—are the ones that really made the decision in the end. Because they all had to dedicate their 911 dollars to the project, they all had a say in it. In the end, they all agreed that this was the route to go.”

“We obtained a loan [to build the P25 network], and those surcharge dollars go to pay that loan … The allowable expenses in 911 allow us to pay for communications, so it fell within that allowable expense for the surcharge.”

One DMA vision that has not yet been realized is full interoperability with the state of Michigan system, but Heck said he is hopeful that an ISSI link between the systems can be done in the not-too-distant future.

“We have an ISSI. We aren’t using it. We’ve talked with the state several times, and I just don’t know if they’re ready to roll out an ISSI on their end or if they just don’t want the expense of an ISSI—I don’t know,” he said. “We’re ready to go whenever they are. We want to interoperate with the state and anybody that’s in our area on a public-safety network that’s willing to interoperate with us.

“The real answer to interoperability … I think, is the ISSI. I’m confident that we will get there, but it’s going to take some time.”