[Scan-DC] MULTI BAND RADIO DEVELOPMENT

[johnson at cpcug.org]

Found this article while conducting my normal traffic search this morning.
 Thales, as we know, is located in Clarksburg, between I-270 and 355,
south of 121.

Ralph Johnson

US Fed News

August 11, 2009 Tuesday 3:29 PM EST

MURRAY STATE TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT GAINS NATIONAL
RECOGNITION FOR PART IN MULTI BAND RADIO PROJECT

LENGTH: 540 words


URRAY, Ky., Aug. 10 -- Murray State University issued the following news
release:

During Fall 2009 Murray State University (MSU), along with 13 other
organizations, will conduct a pilot for a Multi-Band Radio (MBR) Project
funded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Murray State is the
only university to be selected as a part of this pilot study.

Other agencies across the nation involved include the 2010 Olympic
Security Committee, Amtrak, Boise Fire Department, Canadian
Interoperability Technology Interest Group, Customs and Border Patrol,
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii State Civil Defense,
Interagency Communication Interoperability System, Michigan Emergency
Medical Services, Phoenix Police Department and Arizona Department of
Emergency, Texas National Guard, U.S. Marshals Service, and Washington
Metro Area Transit Authority Transit Police. "Murray State was selected as
a player in this project due to its national reputation in
Telecommunications Systems Management research. It is not only an honor to
take part in the project but to be the only university involved,"
commented Jim Gantt, director of MSU's Center for Telecommunication
Systems Management (TSM). The center will be the lead in Murray State's
part of the project, organized through the Program of Distinction in TSM.
Projects like this give the university and the TSM program national
recognition. Information on the project has already been featured on
well-known online news sources, such as Slashdot.

Murray State's involvement in the MBR project sets it apart from other
universities and TSM programs, and provides the opportunity for
individuals in the TSM program to participate in cutting edge research.
"This opportunity allows the university to have access to the newest
emergency communications equipment in the world. Having access to the MBR
allows us to impact where emergency communication is headed and provides
our students, faculty and staff to be involved with the best and most
modern equipment and research," said Gantt.

The need for the MBR project became necessary when trying to find more
efficient ways for emergency response agencies to communicate and swap
information. The DHS Science and Technology Directorate awarded $6.2
million contract to Thales Communication to orchestrate a first-ever MBR
that allows emergency responders to communicate with partner agencies
despite the radio band. Currently, radio bands only function within a
specific frequency; the MBR, comparable in size and weight to existing
portable radios, provides users with a more modern and efficient means of
communication possibilities.

The prototype will be able to access primary public safety bands between
136-174 mega hertz (MHz) and 380-520 MHz as well as in 700MHz and 800 MHZ
bands. These capabilities along with others, when authorized, will allow
federal agencies to communicate with local, tribal, regional and state
counterparts. Priced at approximately $4,000-$6,000 the MBR is comparable
to current high-end portable radios and is the first multiband to be
designed for government agencies and first responders, according to the
DHS.For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:-
htsyndication at hindustantimes.com