Providing Monroe County with the Most Reliable, Sophisticated State-of-the-Art Communication System Available.

Public Safety Communications is responsible for the planning, operation, and maintenance of radio and microwave communication systems used by all Monroe County departments, the City of Rochester, all municipal law enforcement agencies and some fire protection and emergency medical services of the County. The facility is located in the City of Rochester at the top of Cobbs Hill.

Public Safety Communications is dedicated to providing the highest quality of professional service and support for governmental users of communication systems. They provide installations, repairs, licensing, planning, system design and 24-hour emergency service of the radio systems employed by all police agencies, the 9-1-1 Center, fire and emergency medical services and other governmental agencies throughout Monroe County. Technicians respond to calls for service to mobile radios, transmitters, receivers, 911 radio dispatch consoles and microwave links.

Public Safety Communications services more than 700 police mobile radios and more than 1,800 police portable radios and operate a county wide paging system. The staff is also responsible for the maintenance of 63 remote communication sites at locations such as the Greater Rochester International Airport Communications Center, the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center and all city and county Parks.

Communications Fact Sheet

Overview

A number of critical public safety communications projects are either under way or under review. Some confusion has resulted when referring to the various projects. This fact sheet is designed to identify the different projects, briefly define the issues associated with each, and summarize the status of the project. This fact sheet is not meant to be an exhaustive or detailed description of each project or a policy statement about the direction any project will take.

As part of this effort, there are a number of definitions at the end of the fact sheet to assist in understanding the terminology utilized throughout this section.

There are four (4) key public safety communications projects to describe.

Projects

1. 900 MHz Digital Paging System [also known as, Digital Paging]
   The 900 MHz digital paging system will replace the current 450 MHz digital paging system that is obsolete. Equipment for the system is no longer available and maintenance is very costly. The system is a communications necessity for public safety officials and other municipal officials. The new two-way is being tested. The user device, 1501 Responder pager, is available and can be ordered by contacting Radio Center at 428-5146. The current and latest version of the Firmware is Version 1.20 Build 18.
2. Law Enforcement Voice System - The UHF law enforcement voice communications system [Ultra High Frequency band ranges from 460.000-470.000 MHz] was replaced on January 10, 2010 with a digital, FCC compliant,  “narrow band” system to create additional frequencies for public safety agencies. 
3. Public Safety Data System [also known as, MDT System, vehicle laptops]
   MACRO completed a second study of the public safety data system and recommended a replacement. This system has reached its life cycle and is part of the Public Safety Integrated Management System replacement.  This system supports MDT’s and laptop computers in the cars as well as station house MDT units.
4. Fire/EMS Narrow-Band Project [also know as Refarming Project]
   The current radio system used by the fire and emergency medical services uses radio frequencies in the VHF band [Very High Frequency ranges from 138.000-174.000 MHz]. Most frequencies used in Monroe County are in the 153-155 MHz range. Like the UHF frequencies, FCC is requiring them to be “narrow-banded”. This change means moving to a 12.5 MHz split between the next closest frequency. Many current radios used by the services (both mobile and portable) are not manufactured to the new 12.5 “narrow-band” standard and therefore will not accept the new frequencies.

Special operational frequencies are available for mobile and portable use. Agencies must obtain a FCC license to operate on a base station.

Terms and Definitions

1. The FCC is the sole entity governing the allocation of radio frequency spectrum and the granting of radio licenses to public safety agencies in the U.S. [From the MACRO Report of May 2003, see page 12 and footnote 17]
2. Narrow banding is the reducing of the allowable spectrum to transmit on a given frequency, reducing it by half the path allowed today.
3. An 800 MHz-Trunked radio system is a computer time-managed radio system designed for optimum spectrual efficiency.
4. The FCC defines ‘Refarming’ as an effort to develop an overall strategy for using spectrum in various radio allocations more efficiently to meet future communications requirements. [From the MACRO Report of May 2003, see page 13 and footnote 20]

DECEMBER 2, 2006 COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE BRIEFING PRESENTATION

(Please note:  This is a large file that may be unable to automatically launch/open.  It may need to be saved, then opened.)

Communications from the Director of Public Safety

• Communications Fact Sheet update 7-8-05 (42k PDF)
• June 2005 Letter from the Director (23k PDF)
• Communications Fact Sheet (41k PDF)
• Fire/EMS Communications Letter (22k PDF)
• Fire/EMS Communications Letter Mar 2004 (22k PDF)

Interoperability

What is communications interoperability?

According to SAFECOM:  Interoperability refers to the ability of emergency responders to work seamlessly with other systems or products without any special effort.  Wireless communications interoperability specifically refers to the ability of emergency response officials to share information via voice and data signals on demand, in real time, when needed, and as authorized. For example, when communications systems are interoperable, police and firefighters responding to a routine incident can talk to each other to coordinate efforts.  Communications interoperability also makes it possible for emergency response agencies responding to catastrophic accidents or disasters to work effectively together. Finally, it allows emergency response personnel to maximize resources in planning for major predictable events such as the Super Bowl or an inauguration, or for disaster relief and recovery efforts.

Interoperable Channel list

Interoperable Efforts

Monroe County has recieved a Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grant to provide equipment to regionally link the five surrounding counties, NYS Emergency Management Office and New York State Police with Monroe County and each other. 

Monroe County has also been awarded the Interoperable Emergency Communications Program Grant whose priorities are:  common planning and operational protocols and enhancing emergency responder skills/capabilities through training and exercises. This will also compliment the PSIC (equipment) grant by strengthening the regional interoperable communications by developing and testing operational protocols via exercises. It will also allow for development of a field operations guide, frequency coordination and various feasibility and structural studies.   This grant will also allow for development and testing of the NYS-required Tactical Interoperational Communications (TIC) plan in accordance with the Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP). 

Fire/EMS Communications Board

Fire/EMS Communications By-Laws

Meeting Minutes

• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 12-17-09
• Meeting Mintues Fire-EMS 11-19-09
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 10-15-09
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 9-17-09
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 6-18-09
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 5-21-09
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 4-16-09
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 3-19-09
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 2-19-09
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 1-15-09
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 12-18-08
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 11-20-08
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 10-16-08
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 9-18-08
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 6-19-08
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 5-15-08
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 3-20-08
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 2-21-08
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 1-17-08
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 12-20-07
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 11-15-07
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 10-18-07
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 9-20-07
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 6-21-07
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 5-17-07
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 4-19-07
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 3-15-07
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 2-15-07
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 1-18-07
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 12-21-06
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 11-16-06
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 10-19-06
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 9-21-06
• Roll-out Order From Sept. 2006 meeting
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 8-17-06
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 6-15-06
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 5-18-06
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 4-20-06 
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS 3-16-06 (24K PDF)
• Meeting Minutes Fire-EMS Comm 2-16-06 (212k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes Fire EMS Comm 1-19-06 (212k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes 12-15-05 Fire-EMS Comm (252k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes from 10-20-2005 Fire-EMS Comm (212k PDF)
• Meeting Agenda Fire EMS Comm 9-15-05 (208k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes Fire EMS Comm 6-16-05 (208k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes Fire EMS Comm 5-19-05 (212k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes 4-21-05 (no quorum present) (204k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes 3-17-05 (216k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes from 2-17-05 (212k PDF)
• Meeting minutes from 1-20-05 (208k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes from 12-16-04 (212k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes 11-18-04 (208k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes 10-21-04 (212k PDF)
• Meeting minutes 9-16-04 (212k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes 6-17-04 (212k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes 5-20-04 (216k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes 4-15-04 (272k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes 2-19-04 (200k PDF)
• Meeting Minutes 1-15-04 (200k PDF)

Update to Paging Status Coming Soon...     

Agency Serial Number List

For Reference:  CURRENT FIRMWARE VERSION - Build 1.20 version 18

• M1501 Responder Pager User's Guide
• Critical Response Accessory Price List (update coming)