The First Responder Radio Interoperability Committee, to further efforts initiated by the NH Department of Safety in the area of Homeland Security, has been meeting on a regular basis since August 2003. The initial goal is to set a plan in place for a program which will allow statewide (APCO-25 compliant) interoperable communication for the major First Responder disciplines. The goal is to facilitate the "build-out" of a FIRE/EMS communication network which will be effective for all public safety officials in the event of a mass casualty, WMD/CBRNE incident.
Here are some the frequently asked questions to acquaint you with the process.
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- What is APCO-25?
Project 25 (P25) or APCO-25 refer to a suite of standards for digital radio communications for use by federal, state/province and local public safety agencies in North America to enable them to communicate with other agencies and mutual aid response teams in emergencies.
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- Are there any mobile radios available for distribution to local Fire/EMS agencies?
All mobile radios from surveys conducted in September 2003 and January 2004 have been installed or committed to a particular agency.
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- Are there any portable radios available for distribution to local Fire/EMS agencies?
In January 2006, all Fire Departments and EMS agencies (both municipally and privately owned) were given the opportunity to communicate their portable radio needs. Based on those responses, radios were distributed to all departments.
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- What if I did not get all the portables my department needs?
By the end of the portable radio project in October 2006, agencies received nearly all the radios requested, with the exception of privately owned EMS. Those privately owned EMS agencies received a number of radios based on the number of ambulances they own that respond to NH communities.
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- Why were departments offered a choice of brand for the portable radios instead of all one brand? Is this still considered ‘interoperable’?
All the radio choices offered to departments are APCO-25 compliant radios; therefore they are all interoperable with NH’s communications system. Allowing a choice of several different products allowed for departments to fill their own communications needs, while remaining interoperable.
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- What is next?
The goal of the Statewide Fire/EMS Radio Interoperability Initiative is for seamless flow of critical information among multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary emergency responders, command scenes, agencies and government officials for the duration of emergency response operations in compliance with NIMS. The next steps toward that goal include: equipping all microwave frame-relay links in the State and Fire/EMS dispatch centers with P-25 compliant equipment to allow for greater capability to handle load; and determine local repeater and base station enhancement needs and address those needs.
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- I don’t believe in digital. Do I have to move there with this project?
APCO-25 compliant equipment allows for analog and/or digital communication across an open-air interface. Even your older analog radios, replaced by this program, will be interoperable within this system.
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- When does the warranty on my mobile or portable radio begin and end?
Three years from the date of installation/programming.
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- I have ‘dead spots’ in my communication area. Will this project help?
Portables only have 5 watts of power and can only transmit within a limited scope. New mobile radio equipment may or may not assist in improving dead spots. Ultimately, additional infrastructure will be built to further address these issues.
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- How are frequency and programming issues to be handled?
Channels 1-48 are assigned at the discretion of the local fire department. Channels 49-128 must be programmed per the statewide interoperability plan for fire and ambulances. Channels 129-256 are reserved for additional hospital and EMS-based communication per EMS needs.
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- Will the Department of Safety or Homeland Security Grant funding pay for replacement or upgrades of radios?
Your basic installation and programming of all mobile and portable radios is covered by this program, which should be completed at this time. These radios are now the property of your municipality and become the responsibility of the department to which they are issued. As such, the municipality must cover any upgrades. Replacement of radios due to loss or malfunction would also become the responsibility of the municipality.
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- My town would like to purchase additional portable and mobile radios. Can we receive the State bid price?
Yes. When contacting your radio provider, be sure to ask for the State bid price.
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- What does ‘intrinsically safe’ mean?
Intrinsically safe radios are those designed to be incapable of emitting an electrical spark, which would ignite volatile gases in the atmosphere. An intrinsically safe radio is not so unless the battery is also intrinsically safe. The battery must be made so that it cannot short out. The manufacturers must limit how warm the battery can get and limit the flow of current through the battery.
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- How can we upgrade the accessories that were issued, and can we dispose or sell the original accessories?
The radios were issued as a unit or package, and must be inventoried as such. In the event of an audit, all the accessories that were distributed with your radio must be accounted for. If your department determines you would like to purchase an upgrade or a replacement, you may do so with an understanding that the initial accessories are kept on hand.
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- Who determines my department’s distribution process for the radios?
Particularly since each department’s organizational and procedural makeup is unique, the Chief, or staff member designated by the Chief, can determine the best method of distribution. There are departments that have issued a portable radio to each active firefighter to keep with him/her at all times, while other departments have chosen to keep all the radios at the station or on apparatus for use only during specific events or calls.
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- What are the inventory requirements of these radios?
It is recommended that each radio be inventoried with the serial number and signed out with a clear understanding that the assignee is responsible for that radio. In the event that a volunteer or staff member resigns or for some other reason is no longer an active member of the department, a procedure should be in place for the return of that radio.
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- How are depreciation values based, and how long must these radios be kept?
The depreciation values are based on the set rules used by the accountant. When the equipment is valued at $100 or less, the town, at their own discretion, can dispose of the radios.
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- If a privately owned EMS goes out of business or no longer serve the NH communities, what are the requirements of returning those radios?
Since the radios are the property of the municipality in which the private EMS serves (or with whom the MOUs were set up) the privately owned ambulances are required to turn over the radios to the town. It is also recommended that the privately owned EMS notify the Grants Management Unit as will as the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services that they are no longer conducting business for the State of New Hampshire.
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- What should be done with the old radios that the municipality owned prior to being issued new radios?
Your older analog radios can be issued to road agents, water and public works departments, Emergency Management Directors and staff, and or be used as a cache for emergencies when more radios are needed.
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- Now that we have been using our radios my staff has determined that we may have chosen the wrong brand/We are unhappy with our brand. Can we trade these radios for another brand?
No. Since all recipients of the portable radios were given a choice as to the brand of radios, and the purchase was made specifically for your department, it is too late to be considered for trade to another brand.
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- We purchased a new ambulance/truck/command vehicle? Can we have a mobile radio?
It is recommended that when such a purchase is made that your department/municipality should budget for a mobile radio along with the purchase. The radio interoperability initiative has shifted its priority to infrastructure and there may not be funds for the purchase of additional radios.
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- One of our radios was stolen. Do we need to notify anyone?
First, contact your Police Department to file a report. Then notify the Grants Management Unit in writing with the details, including the police report and serial number of the radio. Your department will need to replace the radio with your own funds.
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