By Matt de Simone
Last month at the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors meeting, Fire & EMS Chief Jason Ferguson presented a proposal expanding the emergency communications system.
The current system (installed around 1997-98) was designed as a stand-alone system for the Botetourt area. Botetourt’s “footprint” currently covers most of the county but allows communications to hospitals outside of county boundaries. They’re not areas of necessary coverage but regions of coverage based on the way the antenna broadcasts.
“The current (communications) technology (in Botetourt) is so outdated and antiquated, the current technology is not something we can go out and buy today,” Ferguson explained in a recent interview.
For example, the portable radios currently used by Fire & EMS all come digitally equipped. Botetourt’s fire responders and firefighters have to add an option to make the radios analog to communicate on the 20-year old system. However, their newer radios are ready-made for new technology. Adding the analog option essentially adds a step for rescue workers before they can communicate.
Aside from the Remote Input Output System (RIOS) used to communicate with State Police, first responders and firefighters can’t interoperate with Botetourt’s neighboring partners.
The first reason behind the inoperability is because the current system isn’t digital; the second being that several of Botetourt’s mutual aid partners are on different frequency bands. Botetourt runs on 400 megahertz (MHz), also known as the ultra-high frequency (UHF). Partners in Roanoke and Bedford are on 800 MHz.
At the Board of Supervisors meeting, Buchanan representative Amy White asked Ferguson about the urgency to bring in a new, updated communications system to Botetourt County. Ferguson explained the discussions with the county about bringing in a new system started in 2012.
“In 2014, we had to make some updates to the existing system because we could no longer find parts for some of the components communications towers that needed repair,” Ferguson explained. “There are parts of the system that are newer than 1998, but as our consultant started the process of discussions with the Botetourt’s Emergency Communications Committee, the consultant explained that today’s radio systems have a 10-year life span.”
Although today’s systems may survive past the 10-year mark, technology advances every day. The radio spectrum moves so rapidly. Ferguson stated that if an area needs new communications options and doesn’t progress, those old systems can get left behind technologically. Ferguson made it clear that Botetourt isn’t “left behind,” but local rescue services are at the point where they need to do the right thing by having an outside entity to look at the county’s options.
After issuing a request for proposals and interviewing multiple firms, MorCom International worked with Ferguson administratively, evaluating the area’s current system and what is needed.
“We’ve had issues with the current radio system,” Ferguson added. “I’m not saying we’ve had critical issues where the system goes down, but we have areas of spotty coverage—like the Blue Ridge area.”
Ferguson went on to explain that getting 95 percent coverage in mountainous areas is extremely difficult and expensive. Currently, the two towers that serve the Blue Ridge are located on Purgatory Mountain in Buchanan and another on Tinker Mountain off of I-81. Purgatory services the Blue Ridge community more than Tinker due to the topography.
After 20 years of “canopy growth,” one can imagine taller trees coupled with an antenna on fixed locations on the towers. There are also multiple physical tower sites in Botetourt that weren’t built in the late ’90s.
Ferguson and MorCom suggested Botetourt joining the Roanoke Regional Radio System. Joining that system would broaden the “reach” in the area.
Both Botetourt and Roanoke rescue workers operate out of the Read Mountain Fire Station. When Botetourt Fire & EMS personnel go into Roanoke County for aid around the Bonsack-460 corridor, Botetourt uses a dual-band radio to switch off from their “home” system to speak with Roanoke. Although Botetourt may “switch back” on the system, it would be easier if Botetourt was already connected to the Roanoke Regional system.
Ferguson mentioned that shared buying power plays into any regional system.
“It’s not necessarily on the upfront investment, as much as it is the long-term investment, but there are some upfront benefits,” Ferguson added.
In Roanoke, they have what is known in the radio world as “the core.” A primary controller for the radio system is already in place. If Botetourt went in that direction, Botetourt would have a “prime site,” allowing Botetourt to stand on its own if the core goes offline. The prime site enables Botetourt to continue communications.
If the current Botetourt communications system goes down, there’s no backup.
Ferguson and a MorCom representative proposed two new tower locations in Oriskany and Catawba at the board meeting. Both towers would be completely new—there isn’t a tower in Catawba for the Roanoke footprint, and Botetourt nor Craig County has a tower in Oriskany. MorCom provided alternatives to constructing new towers. There is an option for in-vehicle repeaters—which boosts the signals in a remote area.
The next step in this process is scheduling the next meeting of the Emergency Communications Committee. Ferguson suggested at the board meeting that the county should wait about a month after his presentation to gather more information. Soon, the committee will reconvene to decide the county’s recommended path.
