New Hampshire Gov. Craig Benson accepted a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for Grafton County. This money will go toward the development of interoperable communications systems within the county. The grant funds are part of a program to develop demonstration projects that will use equipment and technology to increase interoperability among the fire service, law enforcement, and emergency medical service communities.
Benson said, "This money will go a long way in assuring Grafton County has the communication equipment they need."
Grafton County will receive grant funding for voice and data shared radio networks that will serve both NH and Vermont. This project will include both a radio portion and a mobile data portion. The radio project will consist of the replacement of analog base stations, elimination of analog telephone and radio links, establishing a system interface between fire and police radio systems and establishing additional transmitter sites to improve terrain coverage. The mobile data portion will build a new regional data transmission system for use by all area police, fire and EMS units.
"These grants are intended to help develop solutions that will guide future communications equipment funding so that all communities can meet an interoperability performance standard," said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. "Providing funds that will help bring these technologies to the light of day supports homeland security's goal to make all of America safer."
