Public Safety Wireless
Network – State of Wyoming
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
Objective of Project
Develop a Plan to Create a Shared
Public Safety Wireless Network in
Wyoming
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
The Project Team
Wyoming Department of Administration
& Information (A&I)
Wyoming Department of Transportation
(WYDOT)
Wyoming State Agency Law
Enforcement Communication System
Commission (SALECS)
RSM McGladrey, Inc.
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
What We Did
Determined the Reasons for
Implementing a New Public Safety
Wireless Network in Wyoming
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
What We Did
Gain Conceptual Acceptance of a
Shared Public Safety Network from the
User Groups
Determine a Technological Direction
Benchmarking
Review Private Sector Participation
Develop an Action Plan
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Findings
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
Reasons for a New Public Safety
Wireless Network
Interoperability
Inter Agency Public Safety Communication
The Importance of Sharing Resources
Inter Governmental Cooperation
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
Reasons for a New Public Safety
Wireless Network
Reliability
Congestion and “Dead Areas”
Replacement of Out-dated Equipment
Efficiency
Potential for Shared Dispatch
Purchasing Leverage
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Gaining Input
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
Who We Talked With
SALECS
DOT
A&I
WAM
WACC
Sheriff Departments
Police Departments
Fire Departments
University
Others
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
What they Said
The following is summary of comments from our
many conversations with Public Safety Officials:
“Contention is the biggest problem. We just
can’t get a channel when we need one.”
“We know we need to do something and
interoperability is the answer.”
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
What they Said (cont.)
“A number of States have bought today’s
technology, we need to be sure what we
buy won’t be obsolete the day after we buy
it. We really need technology for the longterm.”
“We’ve spent $150,000 in the last three
years on upgrade and replacement. We
need a plan before we spend any more.”
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
What they Said (cont.)
“The State is great at covering their costs
and leaving the municipalities high and dry.
We need to be sure everyone can afford to
participate.”
“The State’s losing credibility with Public
Safety entities. There’s been talk about a
State-wide plan for a long time, but we still
haven’t seen it.”
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
What they Said (cont.)
“Law enforcement today requires more than
a side arm and a full tank of gas.”
“We’ve got seven radios in our EMT vehicle
and in an emergency it can be hard to
decide which is for what.”
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Technology
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
Wide Area Radio Network
Repeater
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
Network Components
Backbone
Current
Mostly 2 GHz
Analog Microwave
New Design
6 GHz Digital
Microwave
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
Network Components
Sites & Equipment
Current
DOT has 26 Sites,
Counties,
Municipalities
have many more
Myriad of
equipment,
technologies and
frequencies.
New Design
Consolidation of
sites
Standardization of
equipment,
technologies and
frequency range.
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
Network Components
Portable and Mobile Devices
Current
A little of
everything, most
of it less than
state-of-the-art
New Design
Standardization,
negotiated pricing
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
Network Components
Dispatch Centers
Current
Mostly
decentralized
Lack of
standardization
makes sharing &
support difficult
New Design
Flexibility
Capability to
maintain
independence,
but the
opportunity to
share & support
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
New Design
Primary Components
Digital Microwave to Provide the Widearea Backbone.
Digital, Trunked Radio
Most Likely 800 MHz
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
New Design
Primary Components
Call Patching on the Emergency
Communications Channel
Project 25 Compliant
Industry-wide Standardization
Allows use of Multiple Manufacturers
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
Future Technology
Software Defined Radio
Is a Motorola Program called Wireless
Integrated Transmission System (WITS)
Is part of a US Navy Development Program
to allow System utilizing different radio
frequencies to intercommunicate
Is a Potential solution to interoperability
issues faced by most Public Safety
organizations
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
Future Technology
Software Defined Radio (cont.)
Is Not a replacement for “trunking”
Is not a replacement for, but is a
compatible enhancement to, current
technology systems
Is not commercially available and probably
won’t be for 4-7 years
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
User Requirements
Migration
Minimum of a 2-5 year “phase-in” period
Individual Counties and Municipalities can
join at their discretion
Entities that elect not to participate will
have no less “interoperability services”
than they have today – the existing
Emergency Communications Channel will
continue to function
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Benchmarking
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
Recent Wireless Decisions - Other
States
Alaska
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Idaho
Indiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Ohio
Nex Mexico
Pennsylvania
Wisconsin
Technology
Upgrade to Digital Backbone
800 MHz - Trunked System
800 MHz - Trunked System
800 MHz - Trunked System
800 MHz - Trunked System
800 MHz - Trunked System
Upgrade to Digital Backbone
800 MHz - Trunked System
800 MHz - Trunked System
800 MHz - Trunked System
800 MHz - Trunked System
Upgrade to Digital Backbone
800 MHz - Trunked System
VHF - Trunked System
Mutli-agency
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
Funding & Partners – Other States
Alaska
California
Colorado
Idaho
Michigan
Montana
Ohio
South Carolina
Partners & Funding
Partnered with Alaska Railroad
Funded by Legislature
Finded by Legislature
Partnership with Public TV
Funded by Legislature
Pratnership with Montana Power was unsuccessful
Funded by Legislature
Outsourced through power company
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Involvement by the Private
Sector
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
As a Provider
Issues Limiting this Option
Major technology differences between
cellular or paging services and Public
Safety Radio
Lack of control by the State over the
Network and Quality of Service Issues
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
As a Partner
Sharing of Infrastructure
Tower Sites
Transmission Equipment
QWest (USWest)
Rural Electric Association (REA)
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
As a Customer
Purchasers of Service
Federal Agencies
Power Utilities
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Action Plan
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
1. Identify Accurate Budgetary
Costs
Negotiate with Motorola to conduct an
engineering study and spectrum analysis
Define clear expectations of Motorola as
to delivery of required cost information
2. Develop a Plan for a Governing
and Control Board
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
3. Develop Information on Potential
Funding Sources
4. Continue to Pursue Partnership
Possibilities
5. Obtain Participation
Commitments
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Public Safety Wireless Network – State of Wyoming
6. Develop a Request-for-Proposal based
on the results of the Motorola
engineering study
7. Prepare a Comprehensive Plan for the
Legislature, including:
RFP
Anticipated Cost
Funding Alternatives
Potential Partners
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