Technological and Regulatory Considerations For Land Mobile Operations Presented To: Augusta County Regional Interoperability Communications Project Working Group September 23, 2011 (As Revised November 14, 2011) FINAL REPORT RCC Consultants, Inc. 4900 Cox Road, Suite 235 Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 (804) 353‐0300 Technological and Regulatory Considerations For Land Augusta County Regional Interoperability Mobile Operations Communications Project Working Group Notice: This document contains information regarding access to public safety and critical infrastructure telecommunications systems. As such, it may contain and reveal details regarding the location, use, capabilities, limitations, and vulnerabilities of these systems. Disclosure and dissemination of this information should be limited to those parties engaged in operating, maintaining, or improving the subject systems. No information regarding the locations, system configurations, frequency usage, subscriber units, access methods, operational plans, drawings, diagrams, or documentation related to their use should be disclosed. All such information should be considered as exempt from the Freedom of Information Act under §2.2 3705.2 of the Code of Virginia, regardless of its availability in part or in whole from any other sources. September 23, 2011 1 Technological and Regulatory Considerations For Land Augusta County Regional Interoperability Mobile Operations Communications Project Working Group Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................... 6 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 6 SCOPE OF WORK ............................................................................................................ 6 FINDINGS ...................................................................................................................... 7 Existing Radio Systems ........................................................................................................ 7 Identified Issues .................................................................................................................. 8 OPPORTUNITIES ........................................................................................................... 12 Solution Alternatives ......................................................................................................... 12 Regional Cooperation outside of Augusta County ............................................................ 13 Frequency Bands ............................................................................................................... 13 RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................................................... 13 EXPECTED COSTS AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN .................................................................. 15 Expected Cost .................................................................................................................... 15 Implementation Plan ........................................................................................................ 15 PROJECT BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW ...................................................... 17 PROJECT OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................... 17 SCOPE OF WORK .......................................................................................................... 17 PROJECT METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 17 PROJECT DELIVERABLES ................................................................................................. 18 ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT SYSTEMS ENVIRONMENT ................................... 19 REVIEW OF RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS .................................................................. 19 Current Frequency Usage ................................................................................................. 19 Age of Existing System Equipment.................................................................................... 21 Subscriber Units ................................................................................................................ 21 SYSTEM MAINTENANCE ................................................................................................. 22 DEPARTMENTAL OPERATING ENVIRONMENT AND CONCERNS ................................................ 22 Fire Departments and Rescue Squads .............................................................................. 22 Law Enforcement Agencies ............................................................................................... 23 Other Agencies .................................................................................................................. 24 Communications Centers (PSAP) ...................................................................................... 24 MOBILE DATA SYSTEMS ................................................................................................. 25 LINK FREQUENCY USAGE ................................................................................................ 25 INTEROPERABILITY ........................................................................................ 26 WHAT IS INTEROPERABILITY? .......................................................................................... 26 September 23, 2011 2 Technological and Regulatory Considerations For Land Augusta County Regional Interoperability Mobile Operations Communications Project Working Group STATUS OF INTEROPERABILITY IN THE REGION .................................................................... 28 Summary of Interoperability Capabilities Surrounding Augusta County ......................... 29 Interoperability Report Card and Recommendations ...................................................... 29 TECHNOLOGICAL AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS ................................ 34 NARROWBANDING REQUIREMENTS – PHASE I .................................................................... 34 Narrowbanding Path Forward .......................................................................................... 34 FREQUENCY BANDS ....................................................................................................... 40 TRADITIONAL COVERAGE ENHANCEMENT TECHNIQUES ........................................................ 42 Receiver Voting ................................................................................................................. 42 Transmitter Steering ......................................................................................................... 42 Multi‐Cast .......................................................................................................................... 42 Simulcast ........................................................................................................................... 43 DIGITAL OPERATION ...................................................................................................... 44 TRUNKED RADIO SYSTEMS .............................................................................................. 46 Reduced Channel Congestion ........................................................................................... 47 Priority Access ................................................................................................................... 48 Interoperability ................................................................................................................. 49 Management and Administration ..................................................................................... 49 Emergency Alerts and Calls ............................................................................................... 49 MOBILE DATA SYSTEMS ................................................................................................. 51 MICROWAVE TRANSPORT SYSTEM ................................................................................... 52 DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEMS (IN‐BUILDING COVERAGE) ................................................. 53 DESIGN ALTERNATIVES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................... 56 OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................ 56 COMPARISON OF COVERAGE PERFORMANCE...................................................................... 57 SPECTRUM AVAILABILITY .............................................................................. 60 UHF (450‐470 MHZ) .................................................................................................. 60 800 MHZ ................................................................................................................... 62 700 MHZ ................................................................................................................... 62 INTERNAL AVAILABILITY AND REUSE OF UHF FREQUENCIES ................................................... 63 CONCEPTUAL SYSTEM DESIGN ...................................................................... 64 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED AND DESIGN RECOMMENDATION .............................................. 64 COST ESTIMATES ........................................................................................... 66 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................