[Scan-DC] San Antonio Emergency-call access is restored

[Alan Henney]

San Antonio Express-News

August 13, 2009 Thursday 
STATE&METRO Edition

Emergency-call access is restored

BYLINE: Valentino Lucio, STAFF

SECTION: METRO AND STATE NEWS; Pg. 2B

LENGTH: 164 words

The Fire Department said Wednesday it's restoring news media access to the radio frequencies it uses to dispatch emergency calls. 

The decision comes nearly two weeks after the broadcasts were halted on channels that had been accessible by the media.

The move to restore the fire and EMS channels came in response to discussions among the fire department, the city attorney's office and local media outlets.

SAFD spokeswoman Melissa Sparks said what will be restored are alert tones and dispatch channels, but not EMS correspondence.

Sparks added that the change wouldn't cost the department any overtime money or equipment.

Media access to the dispatch frequencies was halted July 31 when the city's legal department recommended the change so the department would be in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA.

Media outlets were alerted Wednesday that they could have their scanner radios reprogrammed to resume reception of the transmissions.