[Scan-DC] Rehoboth Radios

[Punworg]

Rehoboth to upgrade radio system
Federal grant will help eliminate dead spots in some
areas of city 
By J.L. MILLER
Dover Bureau reporter
09/26/2003

Rehoboth Beach will receive $2.4 million in federal
money to upgrade its 800-megahertz emergency radio
system, which has been hamstrung by dead spots, Gov.
Ruth Ann Minner announced Thursday. 

The money will allow the purchase and installation of
a simulcast site for Rehoboth Beach that will receive
signals from a new 800-megahertz antenna on Del. 1 and
broadcast them throughout the city. That should
eliminate problems, particularly along the Boardwalk. 

The grant also will provide new radio equipment for
the city's emergency dispatch center and new radios
for emergency workers. 

"We are ecstatic," Rehoboth Beach City Manager Gregory
Ferrese said. "We feel it will eliminate the problem
and we are very appreciative of the governor's support
on this." 

Installation of the $50 million 800-megahertz
statewide communications system began in 1999, and
police and fire officials throughout the state have
encountered dead spots where the radios would not
work. 

The state spent $4.5 million to address problems in
the system, building new radio towers in Claymont and
on Del. 1 in Rehoboth. 

But Rehoboth firefighters said they still were unable
to get a signal in some spots, particularly along the
Boardwalk - and they began using their old UHF radios
as their primary means of communication. They later
agreed to resume using the 800-megahertz radios and
keep a log of problems. 

That agreement was made to help gain certification for
the city's emergency dispatch system, Mayor Samuel
Cooper said. The agreement included a pledge to work
with the state to address the continuing problems with
the system. 

"This is in large part a culmination of that effort,"
Cooper said. 

The communication problems are not limited to
firefighters: Police and others with 800-megahertz
radios also have experienced difficulties in the dead
zones, Cooper said. 

Cooper said he expected the simulcast site to be up
and running before spring. 

The $2.4 million grant comes from the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security under a program that asked states
to recommend municipalities for funding to improve
communications systems. 

The state Department of Safety and Homeland Security
assisted Rehoboth in its request, and will serve as
the project manager and technical adviser on the
upgrade.


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