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Ir"JUN 1991 ALTEMMTIVES AM ANALYSIS: -1 Book 89 PA' UF 775 Staff is proposing that an RFP be disseminated for consultants to respond with quotes to complete a study of the, existing communications system, the potential benefit and cost of an 800 MHz Public Safety Trunked Radio System. The study is needed to provide staff, other agencies, and the Board with sufficient information to determine if an application should be filed and if funding should be committed over the next five years for phasing in a new communications system. For informational purposes, trunked radio is relatively new technology that has enormous capabilities. A trunked radio system gets its name from the "trunk" line used in commercial telephone communications. Simply put, a utrunk" is a communications path between two or more points, typically between the telephone company central office and one or more users. The trunk line is time shared by several different users, but each user of the telephone service is not aware of this sharing of lines. One party places a call to another party and the call is completed; the working of the telephone system is transparent and is not readily apparent to the user. Radio communication over a trunked system is similar to the telephone system. The transmitting and receiving radio units can be thought of as the calling and receiving parties, and the transmitting equipment can be thought of as the telephone company equipment. Instead of telephone lines, the radio system uses radio channels to place calls. As with the telephone system, the radio users are not aware of which radio channel they are communicating over. All that is apparent, is that a communication path has been established between the radio and user. It is simply a more efficient way of getting the most out of a limited number of radio channels. This system can also provide technology and a method for transmission of data over the radio system as opposed to analog voice information from utility pumping or treatment plants for the utility facilities/department in the county. It has the capability to provide traf f ic engineering departments to control signaling devices at intersections at locations throughout the county from a single control point. Utility meter readers in the field can transmit data immediately to enhance operations and billing processes. There are many other applications which could be used in the public safety and law enforcement environments which could potentially reduce staff resou?ces in terms of communications or modify the system size. It should be noted that staff was contacted by a representative of the Joint Task Force which is in the process of implementing a contract which has been awarded for an 800 MHz Public Safety Trunked Radio System for a statewide law enforcement radio system. The Task Force has identified four (4) potential tower locations in Indian River County to be constructed and they are interested in cost sharing if the county opts for the 800 MHz communications technology. This could potentially be a real cost saving measure to Indian River County if the 800 MHz becomes a reality. It should also be noted that Indian River County has now become a Priority 6 per the State Communications Plan. This lowest rating possible is predicated on the fact that the County has done nothing regarding obtaining the original allocation in the 800 spectrum. The available allocation pool of channels is becoming smaller and smaller given recent additional channels be allocated to the City of Melbourne, City of Cocoa, City of Orlando,, Orange County,, Reedy Creek Improvement District, and others. 22