The county has signed an $8 million contract with Motorola to rebuild the county's emergency dispatch system, likely next year. This will include the construction of five new radio towers that can also accommodate two service providers each, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon or other types of technology, according to Terry Hall, a project manager and director of York County Emergency Communications. Hall believes there will be strong competition among wireless companies to bridge a digital gap in the county.
"I have a carrier that has great coverage, and I drop calls over here on occasion," Halls said at a Board of Supervisors meeting last week. "You can bet there's going to be somebody trying to fill that in."
The county began planning improvements to the communication and public safety system more than two years ago. Currently, Charter Communications is the lone broadband provider for the county. Changes to the county's radio communication will include the construction of a new sheriff's office, new mobile and portable radios and five new radio towers. Tower locations under consideration include Nike Park, Woody Way, Fair Ground and Holly Run.
The Holly Run location will require the county to lease land. Hall told the board this money could be made up from revenue brought in by service provers that would utilize the site. Using the revenue to offset or pay for the lease is a common trend in public safety, Hall said. He estimated vendors pay $23,000 a year per site they use.
Hall said they've applied for a grant of $250,000 for the 911 system.
"We may be able to get $150,000 or $175,000 dollars of that," Hall said. "We're going after every dime we can, and as grants come up, we're going to continue to apply for them."
Supervisor William McCarty said the ability to host wireless companies that can provide broadband could be a great thing for the county.
"To bring other services, such as broadband, enhances so many things, from economic development to citizen life," McCarty said. "This is a great opportunity for us."
Broadband access has become a basic necessity, according to Virginia's secretary of technology. But that doesn't mean that everyone has easy access.
In some areas of the state – including parts of the Middle Peninsula and portions of counties like Isle of Wight – access is limited or non-existent.
Broadband access has become a basic necessity, according to Virginia's secretary of technology. But that doesn't mean that everyone has easy access.
In some areas of the state – including parts of the Middle Peninsula and portions of counties like Isle of Wight – access is limited or non-existent.
Project managers are finishing geotechnical surveys that include information about soil consistency, structure and groundwater level. They are also working to secure the permits the county needs for the project, including federal, environmental and historical permits. Next steps include purchasing mobile and portable radios, Hall said.
The trickiest part of the project is obtaining the permits, because a hold up on one could stall everything else, Hall said.
"The timeline is for us to launch between now and the end of next calendar year," Hall said. "And that is very aggressive. We're very hopeful we're going to be able to make that. Right now, today, it's on the roadmap to be able to do that."
©2016 the Daily Press (Newport News, Va.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
