By Sonja Decato
Idaho Falls Post Register (Idaho)
MADISON, Idaho — The money is to be used to boost emergency communications for Madison and Fremont.
A hefty federal grant is expected to boost emergency communications in two eastern Idaho counties.
On Friday, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program announced it had awarded a $1 million grant to Madison County’s fire department and Fremont County Emergency Services.
The two — each of which must raise $50,000 in matching costs — will split the money and plan to spend it on two radio repeater towers.
Repeaters amplify radio signals; in theory, the new repeaters will eliminate dead spots and make it easier for emergency personnel to communicate.
“We have a good system, (but the added equipment) will make it better,” said Dave Davis, Madison County’s Division Chief of Fire.
Today, Fremont County personnel have a hard time communicating in the Island Park area. Madison has dead spots by Green Canyon and Heise.
The money will also allow the agencies to switch to the 700 MHz frequency, the frequency set aside for first responders nationwide.
The federal government restricted the 700 MHz to emergency agencies in 2001 in the wake of the terrorist attacks.
The lower frequencies were becoming crowded with commercial products like cell phones and radios, agency officials said when they announced the restrictions.
On the current system, Madison firefighters can only talk to the county’s ambulance crews. To talk to any other agency, the fire department has to call dispatchers and persuade them to relay messages.
“It’s time-consuming and it’s not safe during emergencies,” Davis said. “It ties up dispatch.”
Agencies statewide are making the move to the higher frequency, including Bannock and Bingham counties, said Keith Richey, Fremont County’s emergency management coordinator.
It makes sense, he said.
“When our system is up, I could be in Boise and talk to people in St. Anthony,” Richey said.
Copyright 2008 The Post Register
All Rights Reserved