Sprint will provide Virginia's public safety community a deployable and scalable set of voice, video and data equipment, as well as infrastructure and technical support personnel to provide temporary communications during large events or catastrophic loss of communications capabilities.
"This public-private partnership between the Commonwealth and Sprint will ensure that we can re-establish communications in the event of a large-scale event," said Governor Kaine. "These resources will be available to the Commonwealth immediately, and we are pleased to have this additional capability to serve our residents in times of emergency."
The federal government's Edward Byrne Memorial Formula Grant Program provides sub-grants to local governments and state agencies to support criminal justice improvements in areas such as drug control, drug treatment and crime prevention.
"I am pleased to join Governor Tim Kaine in announcing funding for this important project. These funds will provide Virginia with the resources they need to partner with the Justice Department in combating crime and protecting the community," Assistant Attorney General Regina B. Schofield said.
This investment, along with the Commonwealth's strategic radio caches, will increase Virginia's ability to establish communications during large scale events or disasters and can be mobilized within a few hours notice from the Virginia Emergency Operations Center. The project will include multiple exercises and will be used during drills and emergencies.
The RDSIP is coordinated by the Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator's Office in conjunction with the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness, Secretary of Public Safety, and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. The State Interoperability Executive Committee will work with the project to ensure that regional exercises and training support the Commonwealth Interoperability Strategic Plan.
