Published: January 05, 2008 11:14 pm      

Radio switch nears

EBENSBURG — Cambria County’s 911 center is close to converting its radio frequency from low-band to high-tech, UHF frequencies, a step that required volunteer fire companies and emergency medical services to make costly upgrades.

The change is part of the $4.5 million, state-mandated upgrade Cambria is making to its operations.

Somerset County has not made any decision about if or when to change its frequency, Somerset 911 Director David Fox said.

In Cambria, at least two-thirds of the 47 fire companies and 18 ambulance services reported before Christmas that they’re ready to make the switch, Cambria’s Department of Emergency Services Director Brian Feist said.

“Only one department has told us they’ve done nothing. I think they’re waiting for state money, and UHF equipment is readily available. I feel very strongly all will be ready,” he said.

He declined to reveal which department that is.

Police departments throughout the county and the Johnstown Fire Department have been on the UHF frequency for years.

While not pinpointing an exact date for the switch, Feist indicated it would be done by the end of January. That’s when a 30-day extension from the FCC expires for Cambria 911 to use the current frequencies, he said.

Officials previously had anticipated the switch would occur before the end of last year.

“We’re almost there right now to be operational. We want to make sure everybody is on the system before doing it, but we also don’t want to delay it.”

The last tower needed for the system is near completion on Lost Mountain near Blandburg in Reade Township. The concrete is “curing” at the remote site, and the tower soon will be erected, Feist said.

Although the state Bureau of Forestry and the Game Commission have been cooperative, it was a time-consuming process getting the approvals through Harrisburg for the Lost Mountain Tower, he said. It is being erected on state gamelands near a fire tower, he said.

Once that is completed, Feist and his staff will make visits to all the departments to test the equipment in various locations in their coverage areas.

The Lost Mountain tower – only the second one to be built by the county – is one of 15 that will be used in the new system. The other towers are leased or shared, many with state agencies.

The tower network also will be used in the $5.5 million wireless telecommunication system that will make Wi-Fi, high-speed Internet and broadband services available to providers throughout the county.

“For public safety, it’s a huge improvement. They immediately will have the capability – as long as emergency services have the (field equipment) to communicate back and forth,” President Commissioner P.J. Stevens said.

As an example, he said that some units when inside a building have been unable to communicate with a unit outside.

“There should be seamless communications to emergency responders,” he said.

It cost Upper Yoder responders $25,000 to update equipment, fire company President John Reitz said.

“We’re close to being ready. We’ve had the equipment probably two months for both our fire and ambulance departments. We’ll be ready as soon as they get the frequency programmed,” Reitz said.

Fred Nastase, president of Hope Fire Company in northern Cambria County, estimated his department spent about $24,000. The money came out of the company’s general fund budget, which is financed through fundraising activities, he said.

East Conemaugh Fire Company, along with others, was able to get a grant to help finance the $20,000-plus outlay, said Feist, who is an assistant fire chief.

Reitz said, “They tell us it will be better communications, and we’re hoping it will be better.”