Citizen.net...

Company proposes 911-radio system that only uses existing 
communication towers 


Any radio system the county choooses will use the tower next to the Fauquier County Detention Center in Warrenton. 

By Don Del Rosso 
Staff Writer

Motorola Inc. may have a technology-friendly solution to Fauquier's emergency radio system dilemma. 

In a potentially major development, the huge communications equipment maker claims it can build the county an 800-megahertz system that would ues existing or approved towers plans. 

In the view of many, that would be ideal. 

Fewer towers means less blight and perhaps reduced construction costs - just what environmentalists and taxpayers, who would foot the costly bill to replace Fauquier's antiquated radio system, want to hear. 

But the Motorola proposal apparently falls short of minimum performance criteria that deal with reliability and transmission quality. 

Fauquier wants a system that will work 95 percent of the time at a certain level of transmission clarity. 

Motorola's proposal apparently misses the mark in both cases, according to sources familiar with the project. 

Besides Motorola, Ericsson Inc. submitted a plan to construct an 800-Mhz system for Fauquier. 

Ericsson's proposal would require additional towers. 

The price of an 800-Mhz system may be the biggest stumbling block for Fauquier. The Rolls Royce of radio equipment, it could cost $8 million to $12 million. 

Last month, the county's technical review team - headed by Supervisor Ray Graham (Cedar Run District) - received the Motorola and Ericsson proposals. 

Virginia procurement law prohibits team members from discussing the technical component "until after the contract has been awarded," County Attorney Paul McCulla explained. 

First, the county must decide which company meets its technical requirements. 

Then Fauquier opens the cost component of the bid proposal. Negotiations between the parties follow. 

Mr. Graham hopes to complete that two-step process in the spring. 

When closes a deal, the bid will be available for public review. 

Mr. Graham refused to discuss the Motorola proposal. 

"I can't comment, for legal reasons," on the company's pledge to build an 800-Mhz system that would rely only on existing or approved towers, he said. "That's the rumor out there. I've heard that rumor." 

Mr. Graham also emphasized that a less-expensive, 150-Mhz system remains an option. 

He expects the technical review committee will decide in February or March whether to recommend the 150- or 800-Mhz system to the Fauquier supervisors. 

Both have distinctive strengths and limitations. (See box.) 

In its request for proposals for 800-Mhz systems, Fauquier wanted a solution that would provide 95 percent radio coverage of the county 95 percent of the time. 

"If a company says it can do 95 percent of coverage 93 percent of the time without additional towers, is that acceptable to us or not?" Mr. Graham asked. 

The prospect of "no new towers" has great appeal, Supervisor Larry Weeks (Scott District) said. 

"Based on what you're telling me, there's a trade-off," Mr. Weeks said of the Motorola proposal, which apparently slightly fails to meet the county's desired reliability and transmission clarity standards. "They don't seem like show-stoppers, especially in light of no new towers." 

He added: "Towers have never been a show-stopper to me. I'm sensitive to those concerned about the aesthetics of more towers. But if it can be done without more of them, then hallelujah." 

Referring to Motorola's 800-Mhz proposal, Supervisor Harry Atherton (Marshall District) admitted being a "little nervous commenting on something I have not seen and am not supposed to see." 

Mr. Atherton expressed some concern about the cost and aesthetic implications of an 800-Mhz system. 

He cited a Delaware community's 800-Mhz experience as perhaps the worst-case scenario. 

"It started at $12 and it went to $60 million," Mr. Atherton said. "And they're still building . . . . $8 million to $12 million and you're talking about an elementary school." 

Typically, 800-Mhz systems require more and taller towers to cover mountainous terrain, which characterizes much of northern Fauquier. 

"It likes elevations," Mr. Atherton said of the system. 

Conversely, a 150-Mhz system's longer wavelengths allow it to cover hilly land with fewer towers. 

Supervisor Joe Winkelmann (Center District) thinks it would be "wonderful" if the county's new radio system would require no new towers. 

But, he said: "You don't sacrifice the effectiveness of a system because of aesthetics." 

Form should follow function, Mr. Winklemann suggested. 

If a sound radio system requires more towers, so be it, he said. 

"A safe and effective system drives the decision-making for me," said Mr. Winkelmann, who remains uncommitted to any system. "Aesthetics is down the list." 

Like Mr. Atherton, the Center District supervisor worries that costs will escalate after the county signs a contract for a system. 

"There's a little bait-and-switch that's possible in some of these bids," Mr. Winkelmann said. "We have to be very, very careful and I'm certain we will be." 

Supervisor Sharon McCamy (Lee District) sounded encouraged by the Motorola proposal, although she has no first-hand knowledge of it. 

"If there's a way to do this (with no new towers) that would be excellent," Mrs. McCamy exclaimed. 

The potential price of an 800-Mhz system, especially the annual maintenance fee, also gives her considerable pause. 

Lynchburg-based CTA Communications, the county's 800-Mhz consultant, estimates it would cost Fauquier up to $425,000 a year to maintain the system. 

"That's an enormous amount of money," Mrs. McCamy said. "That's a concern." 

After 20 years, the cost of maintenance probably will exceed the initial cost of the system. 

"It's a recurring escalating cost every year," Mr. Graham said. "That's not peanuts. You're talking about $500,000 a year, with a person to man a system." 

Mr. Graham described the Motorola and Ericsson proposals as complicated. 

Technical review team members will evaluate and make notes about the two submissions. 

Mr. Graham alone has compiled 78 questions - four general, about 50 for Motorola and 24 for Ericsson. 

CTA Communications, a consultant to the county, will submit the review team's questions to the two companies. Motorola and Ericsson will give their responses to the consultant, which will turn them over to the review panel by the end of January. 

Meanwhile, the county will select a consultant to help it prepare the specifications for a 150-Mhz system. Those specifications will be advertised. 

Proposals to build a 150-Mhz system will be reviewed by the technical panel. 

By March, the group will recommend to the county supervisors a finalist for a 150-Mhz and 800-Mhz system, Mr. Graham said. 

To put it mildly, the history of Fauquier's efforts to replace its emergency radio system has been tumultuous. 

Until this summer, the board had been prepared to commit to an 800-Mhz system. 

Mr. Weeks, in particular, had been an early advocate of 150-Mhz technology. He preferred such a system largely because of his "positive" experience with it during his career in the Marines. 

But a lack of 150-Mhz channels via the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) forced him to switch to an 800-Mhz system. 

For the same reason, the board of supervisors in 1998 decided to buy an 800-Mhz system. 

During the last couple of years, however, the FCC has made available additional 150-Mhz channels. 

So this summer the board agreed to reconsider its 150-Mhz options. 

Mr. Weeks said he plans to give equal consideration to the two systems. 

"I have no problem playing out the competitive aspects of these two systems (150-Mhz versus 800-Mhz) as long as we don't make it a career," he said. 

In some respects, the decision to revisit 150-Mhz technology has slowed the review process. 

Even so, Mr. Graham believes the county will meet its January 2002 deadline to replace the old system. 

"This is one of those things that you embrace, decide and go with and make it work," Mr. Graham said. "The board will go 'Okay, here's how I vote.' And the majority rules."