Subject: [NEXTEL-1] FL-STATEWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT RADIO SYSTEM

From: Marcel <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 02 Dec 2002 13:54:24 -0500

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STATEWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT RADIO SYSTEM

What's Happening Now - December 2002

Conducting Phase 3 acceptance testing

Continuing to install Phase 3 mobile radios (over 850 vehicles and vessels done so far)

Processing orders for Phase 4 and Phase 5 radios

Using M/A-COM consoles for conventional systems in Phase 3 and Phase 4 Joint Dispatch centers

Scheduling "train the trainer" classes for Phase 3 in January

Continuing to build new dispatch centers or renovating existing ones throughout the state (all phases)

Continuing conveyance of State tower assets to M/A-COM (all phases)

Project Overview

Section 282.1095(1), Florida Statutes authorizes the State Technology Office to "acquire and implement a statewide radio communications system to serve law enforcement units of state agencies, and to serve local law enforcement agencies through a mutual aid channel." This shared system provides an enterprise solution to facilitate communications among thirteen State law enforcement entities.

The goal of the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) project is to provide State law enforcement officers with a shared 800 MHz radio system. When completed, this digital, computerized system will serve over 6500 users with over 14,000 radios in patrol cars, boats, motorcycles, and aircraft wherever they are in the state.

By providing a common communications system for the Joint Task Force agencies, the State achieves:

Effective interagency communications,

Coordinated communications with local public safety entities,

A solution to frequency congestion, and

Replacement of older agency-specific systems without duplication of effort.

Project Phases and Schedule

The project begins with the deployment of the M/A-COM EDACS system in Phase 3 (Collier County northward to Citrus County). Then, Phases 4 and 5 will be deployed. At that time, all JTF agencies will be on an 800 MHz system. Next, the State and M/A-COM will begin replacing the existing 800 MHz system in Phases 1 and 2 with the M/A-COM system.

The EDACS system will be ready for use by the Joint Task Force agencies by the following dates:

Phase 3 - February 1, 2003

Phase 4 - July 1, 2003

Phase 5 - December 1, 2003

Phase 2 - July 1, 2004

Phase 1 - October 1, 2003

Project Management and Personnel

The State Technology Office (STO) manages this enterprise project. Section 282.1095, Florida Statutes. authorizes the State Technology Office to acquire and implement a statewide radio communications system along with the advisory Joint Task Force (JTF) on State Agency Law Enforcement Communications. This statute also establishes the State Agency Law Enforcement Radio System Trust Fund in the State Technology Office. Under the statute, the State Technology Office is responsible for the design, engineering, acquisition and implementation of the system.

STO provides the Project Director, System Manager and engineering and real estate staff to carry out the State's contract management responsibilities. The STO team also coordinates and facilitates the various deployment activities involving the JTF member agencies, their technical staff and their system users. In carrying out its duties, the STO works with the program and engineering staff of the involved agencies to ensure that the finished system will meet the needs of the officers.

Joint Task Force Agencies

Agencies are included in the 800 MHz system by statutory reference (s. 282.1095, F.S.) or by acceptance into the Governor's Enterprise-wide Sharing of Resources Model. Both categories of members receive equipment and services as provided by the M/A-COM contract. The statutory agencies are:

Department of Business and Professional Regulation / Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco

Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles / Division of Florida Highway Patrol

Department of Law Enforcement / Criminal Investigations & Forensic Science Services

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Department of Environmental Protection / Division of Law Enforcement

Department of Corrections

Department of Insurance / Division of State Fire Marshal

Department of Transportation / Motor Carrier Compliance Office

These agencies are statutorily referenced to comprise the Joint Task Force on State Agency Law Enforcement Communications (a.k.a. JTF). Under s. 282.1095(4)(b), F.S., the Joint Task Force may authorize other state agencies to use the 800 MHz system.

Other agencies that fall under the umbrella of the Governor's Enterprise-wide Sharing agreement include:

Department of Law Enforcement / Division of Capitol Police

Department of Insurance / Division of Insurance Fraud

Attorney General / Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services / Division of Agricultural Law Enforcement

Department of Juvenile Justice

Ex officio members are the State University police departments. Currently participating in the existing system are Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, and the University of Central Florida.

There are no local agencies in the Joint Task Force. However, local public sector entities can become third-party subscribers upon reaching mutually-agreeable terms with M/A-COM and subject to final STO approval.

Joint Task Force Board

The Joint Task Force on State Agency Law Enforcement Communications is called the JTF Board. The eight statutory agencies appoint board members. Meetings are held as necessary, but at least quarterly, at the call of the chair. Board members are:

Chair, Fred Dickinson, HSMV

Col. Graham Fountain, DOT

Lt. Col. Jim McCallister, FWCC

Dr. Jim Sewell, FDLE

Major Billy Smith, DOI/SFM

Major Russel Smith, DBPR

Chief Elwood Stephens, DEP

James Upchurch, DC

M/A-COM and the EDACS System

The State's partner for the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System is M/A-COM, a subsidiary of Tyco Electronics. The radio system will be M/A-COM's digital, trunked EDACS system. For further information regarding M/A-COM, see www.macom.com.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How is mutual aid provided for with the new system?

The contract with M/A-COM calls for installation of the National Plan Calling Channel and TAC-1 co-located at each site along with the trunked system. The Mutual Aid system structure is simulcast or voted/steered. As the state has done in the past and in accordance with the Region 9 Plan, STO will coordinate with local government entities to designate Network Control Centers on a regional basis. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will join STO and the local agencies in establishing regional standard operating procedures for shared use of mutual aid radio communications resources.

How is interoperability provided for with the new system?

The completed system will provide interoperability with local 800 MHz public safety entities either directly or via conventional analog mutual aid channels.
The first step is for the involved agencies to reach an official understanding of sharing system information or resources, necessary for administrative purposes.

Technically, interoperability can be achieved with others in several ways depending on prevailing factors, as may be the case for each situation. These include:

Direct interoperability with other 800 MHz EDACS users throughout the state,

The mutual aid system,

Audio "patches" at the console level,

Control stations (RF or wire-line), and

Sharing of radios.

Some methods are more convenient than others, but the bottom line is that it is fairly easy to achieve interoperability technically.

What happens to the radio systems currently in use once the new system is in place?

JTF agencies are planning to maintain their existing systems for six months or more after the EDACS system is installed. This time provides a backup system during the transition. When the new system is accepted, agencies may either surplus their existing systems or keep them for maintaining interoperability with other non-800 MHz entities.

How will the new system work with the State's Emergency Operations Center?

The Emergency Operations Center is served by the State phone system, telecommunications networks and the 800 MHz wireless (radio) system. For radio services, state agencies participating in emergency management are either on the existing 800 MHz system in Phases 1 and 2 or any of the legacy systems that have been used for years but will be replaced by the 800 MHz system in Phases 3, 4 and 5. Mutual aid operations with local (non-state) law enforcement and emergency management organizations allow for statewide communications as needed.

Funding

The public/private partnership for the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System has a unique funding strategy. For providing the services in the contract, M/A-COM was paid a $40 million advance payment plus it receives the ongoing proceeds from a motor vehicle and vessel registration surcharge (approximately $13-$17 million annually), less certain stipulated expenses incurred by the State. This revenue stream to M/A-COM provides the system infrastructure (towers, antennas, system equipment, system maintenance, radio consoles for dispatch) and 800 MHz service. Later in the project, a mobile data network will be included in the service.

In return for the conveyance of various State tower and tower site assets, M/A-COM has extended $25.5 million in credits to the State for radios and accessories. In addition to these credits, M/A-COM will be providing credits equal to like-for-like replacements for 6000 radios purchased by the State for Phases 1 and 2.

The M/A-COM contract provides for revenue sharing in three ways:

For the initial term of the contract (20 years), the State receives 15% of all net revenues received from third-party tenants on towers conveyed to M/A-COM from the State. After the initial term, the State receives 50% of all net revenues received from third-party tenants on towers conveyed to M/A-COM from the State for an additional 30 years.

For any third-party subscribers of the radio system, the State receives 5% of the gross revenue.

If the State chooses to use M/A-COM as the agent for the sale of the existing 800 MHz system in Phases 1 and 2, the sale proceeds are split 50/50.

JTF member agencies must provide the radios for the users and remaining dispatch center facilities, equipment and expenses. There is no charge to the JTF agencies for use of the system.

Dispatch

Dispatch operations are the responsibility of the JTF member agencies with STO providing the radio infrastructure and technical assistance. Thirteen different dispatch centers will integrate with the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System. These centers provide dispatch support and officer tracking services for those that choose to use dispatch services. Seven dispatch centers are Regional Communications Centers under the Joint Dispatch Oversight Committee of the JTF Board. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission operates the other six dispatch centers for its staff. The Joint Dispatch centers are managed by the Florida Highway Patrol with facilities and equipment provided by the participating agencies. Oversight committees of Joint Dispatch agencies meet regularly to set policies and monitor operations.

All dispatch centers are undergoing change as both Joint Dispatch and FWCC are consolidating operations with the deployment of the new radio system. New centers are being built or existing centers renovated to handle consolidated workloads.

Mobile Data Network

Planning has begun for the mobile data network component of the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System. The State Technology Office is identifying the needs of the JTF agencies for this service and, working with M/A-COM, researching options for development and deployment of the system.

Project Contact

For further information about the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio contact:

Linda Fuchs, Project Director

State Technology Office

Email: [email-masked]

Voice: 850/488-8036; Suncom 278-8036

Kourosh Bastani, System Manager

State Technology Office

Email: [email-masked]

Voice: 407/977-6592; Suncom 392-6592

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