Va. County Updates 911 System With Digital Equipment

March 04--CHATHAM -- A new, federally-mandated digital emergency 911 system that will replace Pittsylvania County's outdated analog network will begin operating this summer, according to county officials.

The $13 million, 700-megahertz system -- expected to begin service by early August -- will run simultaneously with the old one for 30-60 days so officials can ensure the stability of the new digital network, said Jim Davis, the county's emergency services coordinator.

The Federal Communications Commission is mandating the changes because the old system is crowded, with agencies receiving feedback from outside jurisdictions during calls.

"This system has been long needed," Davis said during an interview at his Chatham office Thursday. "It's going to carry us for the next 20 years."

The county will pay for the system through a 12-year lease-purchase agreement with Bank of America. The county will make its first payment -- $1.4 million -- on the agreement in 2013-14, said County Administrator Dan Sleeper.

The $1.4 million is part of the $2.77 million increase in debt service -- a total of $12.5 million -- Pittsylvania County will have to pay next fiscal year, Sleeper said. In order to help balance the proposed $240 million 2013-14 budget, Sleeper has recommended the county keep the $5 monthly household solid waste fee and raise the real estate tax rate by 6 cents from 56 cents to 62 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The extra $2.77 million debt equals the amount that would be raised by an 8-cent increase in the real estate tax rate. Each penny generates more than $300,000 in tax revenue.

The county's 911 upgrade has two contractors. Gamewood Technology Inc. in Danville is constructing and installing new towers, while Forest-based Harris Corp. is providing and installing the digital equipment.

"We've had weather issues that slowed us down a little bit," Davis said.

New equipment will include radio infrastructure, microwave transmitters and repeaters and "trunking" equipment, Davis said.

The old system has three channels, one each for police and fire departments and a back-up channel that agencies can talk on one at a time, Davis said.

But the new network will have a multiple, "talk-path" system, enabling the agencies to split their channels among different individuals or departments, he said. Frequencies can be programmed so only certain parties can hear what another is saying, Davis said.

"This trunking system will be the brains of the network," Davis said.

To compare use of the old system to the new one, Davis described the contrast using a bank-teller system analogy.

Under the current, outdated system, those waiting to use the system wait in three separate lines for a certain "teller" representing each frequency. The new system would be more efficient, with a single line of "customers" being served by multiple tellers, with the next customer able to take the next available representative, Davis said.

New towers, shelters and equipment have been installed at the compactor site on Va. 41 in Callands and at Dan River Middle School on Dodson Lane in Ringgold, while new infrastructure should be complete at White Oak Mountain in about two weeks, Davis said.

New towers, shelter and equipment will be installed at the compactor site on Rockford School Road in Gretna and at Mount Airy at the compactor site off Va. 40 and Va. 640. Permits have been granted for work to begin at the Grit Road compactor site in Hurt, Davis said.

An existing tower at a compactor site at U.S. 58 and Va. 622 in Brosville has had work, with steel replaced. New equipment will be installed there. Antennas and microwave equipment will be installed at a tower at Smith Mountain, Davis said.

The existing tower at the 911 center in downtown Chatham will get two new microwaves to tie into the new system, and the dispatch office in Chatham will receive new radio equipment.

Also, the county must obtain equipment -- including portable/mobile radios -- for police cars and fire trucks, Davis said.

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