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• (Insert memo) TO: Honorable Board of r'�� THROUGH: Douglas Wrig► !'��,� �,�" Department of L � 'tl FROM: Nathan McCollum ..gator Department of Eme, DATE: July 26, 2000 SUBJECT: Approval Of Emergency Broadcast Agreement With Central Education Broadcasting Inc., (WSCF 91.9) and Indian River County To Provide Emergency Frequency Modulation (FM) Radio Protective Action Broadcasts; Authorization to Waive Bidding and Purchase of Equipment on Sole Source Basis; and Funding Authorization In 1999, Hurricanes Floyd and Irene required important public information to be disseminated in a rapid fashion. During these two storm events. staff utilized cable broadcasting government channels AT&T Channel 13 and Charter Communications Channel 35 to provide immediate crisis information to the public. However. this cable broadcast is totally dependant on the public subscribing to cable television and the cable/electricity remaining operational during hurricane events. Therefore. over the last nine months staff has been working to provide FM radio broadcasts which can be heard during any situation. Earlier, the Board authorized staff to apply for an FM radio license which would be used to simulcast all broadcasts on the government channels. The Board approved funds for a consultant/communication engineer to investigate and apply for this license. After weeks of research. the consultant determined that no FM radio license was available in the Indian River County area. This was based on the fact that all available licenses for this spectrum had been issued to commercial radio stations and any radio transmission from our existing tower sites would interfere with current license holders. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does not allow for any public safety prioritization when issuing FM radio licenses. After failing to obtain a commercial FM radio license. staff pursued a "low power" FM radio license. This license allows for an agency to broadcast up to 1000 watts. Although frequencies are available in this realm of spectrum. staff would need to develop. operate. and maintain five radio tower sites throughout the county in order to ensure countywide coverage. Furthermore. the FCC has not completed promulgating the rules for low frequency FM and it is estimated they will not be completed until 200. Staff has determined that the purchase of the broadcast equipment and maintenance of five transmitter sites would be cost prohibitive. With no options remaining available to obtain a radio station license from the FCC. staff began contacting local radio stations who provide 100% coverage in Indian River County in an effort to ascertain if an agreement could be worked out wherein the County could access the airwaves to disseminate disaster /protective action information for the citizens and visitors in the County. specific to our county. In the recent past. staff has spoken with representatives of radio stations WPAW. WGYL. WTTB, WSCF. WQOL. WFLM. WZZR. WQOL and WOSN. With the exception of WSCF. all of the other radio stations were involved in either the sale of the station or the purchase of another station. which prohibited them from executing any new broadcast agreements. or they were not interested in entering into an agreement with the County. August 1, 2000 M, •