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Topic:  Radio Interoperability

Radio Interoperability Oversight Committee

The Radio Interoperability Oversight Committee began in the summer of 2009 to address the concerns that were being raised regarding radios being purchased by Marathon County for local law enforcement and emergency response personnel. After the events of 9/11 and Katrina, the federal government is requiring that all emergency government response be P-25 compliant by January 1, 2013 to ensure radio interoperability when an emergency requires the resources of many emergency response organizations.

To meet these federal requirements Marathon County is in the process of constructing and/or upgrading its towers to create greater radio coverage throughout the county during emergency. As a part of this project Marathon County made a commitment to purchase P-25 complaint radios for local law enforcement and emergency response personnel including the local public works departments to ensure radio interoperability when an emergency requires the resources of many emergency response organizations. The purchase of these radios began with OJA grants earlier this year. After the initial radios were disbursed several concerns were raised by the end users which led to meetings with the Police Chiefs and Fire Chiefs. As a result of these meetings a list of issues were complied and the Radio Interoperability Oversight Committee was formed to both address the issues and open communications between about the project.

The committee meets every two weeks to address ongoing issues, identify new issues, plan for the implementation and cut over to the new tower system in 2010; and determine what and how to best communicate with local agencies about issues and the tower construction project. Current members include: Brad Karger (County Administrator), Deb Hager (Deputy County Administrator), Dan Hoenecke (Tower Construction Project Coordinator), Bob Pound (Fire Chiefs Representative), Capt. Dave Mason (Sheriff’s Department), Lt. Jason Plaza (Sheriff’s Dept.), Chief Deputy Scott Parks, Sheriff Hoenisch, Phil Rentmeester (Wausau Fire Department Deputy Chief), Police Chief Wally Sparks (Everest Metro), Jeff Koppa (Highway Department), Ed Gale (County Board) and Meldon Maguire (Rural EMS Representative), Jerome Boettcher (Emergency Govt. Planner). This meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend.   

Key Points about FCC Narrow banding Requirements

• Marathon County public safety radio system currently uses a VHF wideband analog radio frequency, 25 kHz-wide channels.
• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated that all non-Federal public safety licensees using 25 kHz radio systems migrate to narrowband 12.5 kHz channels by January 1, 2013.
• With the upgraded radio infrastructure Marathon County is installing all Fire, Police and EMS in the County will be utilizing narrowband frequencies.
• Fire & EMS will be utilizing narrowband analog frequencies for paging and radio communication.
• Police will be utilizing narrowband digital frequencies. For encryption, one must utilize a narrowband digital frequency. Only Police with have encryption capabilities.
•  Agencies need to start planning now to migrate to narrowband systems by assessing their current radio equipment and applying for new or modified licenses.
• Agencies that do not meet the deadline face the loss of communication capabilities.
• This is why Marathon County is upgrading their radio/paging infrastructure.

The subjects listed below are resources for information, background, and help in use of the radios as well as the status of the tower communications project.

If you would like information added to this site or have questions please contact:

Lt. Jason Plaza / Marathon County Sheriff's Department, jason.plaza@co.marathon.wi.us

Subjects under Radio Interoperability:

• FAQ
• General Information
• Local Radio Vendor Contact Information
• Round 5 Grant
• Sirens / Public Safety Units