Emergency radio costs escalate

Times Contributor 

 

County Protective Services Manager, Gerald Skibinsky said he had a chance to review new Alberta First Responder Radio Communications System (AFRACS) radio equipment that may be required in the future for area Emergency Response crews.

“I attended an AFRACS meeting in Red Deer and got to see some of the radios that were being replaced in the RCMP communication system,” said Skibinsky. 

He forewarned council that the costs of the radio system are considerably higher than radios currently in place within the county. Radios are currently purchased for around $800, but Skibinsky said the new radios will range from $3,500 to $5,000. Truck radios were priced between $5,000 and $7,000. System promoters suggest users can soften the economic hit by making purchases as old equipment needs replaced; however, compatibility of the County’s current radios would have to be determined.

The Government of Alberta Justice department had an update on the progress of the project. See www.solgps.alberta.ca/AFRRCS . 

AFRRCS is being developed as a voluntary buy-in service, to a single province wide P25 radio system based primarily on the 700mhz Public Safety radio band wave. There will be need for conventional VHF radio in mountain parks and designated remote areas. Operations will be push-to-talk and provide message data for dispatch console operations. Emergency services can talk to one another without the need for additional equipment or specialized interconnections, yet can choose which agencies are connected. It replaces the Province of Alberta Communication System (PACS) used by the RCMP and the Multi Departmental Mobile Radio System (MDMRS) used by the Government of Alberta. It will be available to all Alberta first responder agencies and phased in between 2011 and 2014. 

Permitted manufacturers are submitting new radio models for addition to the allowed purchasing list. Users will be responsible for purchasing P25 handheld portables, mobile radios and mobile repeaters, as well as associated migration fees.

Pricing for end user portable and mobile radios are posted to the Alberta government’s “MyAgent” website, which municipal and other organizations purchasing officers already use. Those who don’t have existing access can contact Stephanie Galba at 780-427-3269 and set up an account, but state that it’s for the “standing offer contracts” for radios and accessories associated with the AFRRCS project.

At a meeting in Edmonton in May, a volunteer subcommittee was formed called the Interoperability and Standards Sub Council. The following members were appointed: 

Bill Meade-Alberta Assistant Deputy Minister for the Solicitor General and Public Security

Cory Chegwyn, Fire Chief of Yellowhead County

John D. Conrad, Director of Central Operations of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency

Dale McGowan, Deputy Commissioner and Commanding Officer of the RCMP K-Division 

Jim Garland, Executive Director of Alberta Health Services Emergency Medical Services Dispatch

Roger Chaffin, Deputy Chief of Calgary Police Services Bureau of Organizational Support.  

The subcommittee’s goal is to provide a forum for working groups and be an advisory council for agency representatives. It will encourage stakeholders to become involved and contribute to the success of the AFRRCS Project.