PSAP CONSOLIDATION’S IMPACT ON INTEROPERABILITY

The consolidation of PSAPs, in and of itself, creates a level of interoperability between the various jurisdictions dispatched by the PSAP. The more jurisdictions served by the PSAP the greater the interoperability between those jurisdictions. The PSAP becomes the communication hub for the communities it serves and has the ability to establish a

common communication link between multiple emergency response units. To address interoperability beyond a PSAP’s jurisdiction, the PSAP and its public safety agencies generally will need a radio system that is compatible with neighboring PSAPs or public safety response agencies, or it will have to consider methods to selectively patch

communication systems together when the need arises. If PSAPs are consolidated without taking this into account, the consolidated PSAP will have to rely on other methods (such as patches) to communicate with agencies outside of its jurisdiction.

As PSAPs consider consolidation, one critical element that needs to be addressed is how the various users will be linked together by the new PSAP. One alternative is to consider replacing the existing radio system with a common radio system specifically for the various jurisdictions involved in the consolidation. Consideration of neighboring

jurisdictions may also be appropriate. In these considerations, the funding opportunities available through the Metro Radio Board and ARMER Program for participation in the statewide public safety radio system may be relevant. Funding of radio control stations has also been available through the Department of Public Safety in order to provide basic interoperability to the statewide public safety radio system by patching systems together.

This may provide another option for jurisdictions considering PSAP consolidation to upgrade their communications to digital trunked radio communication.

Further, with consolidation of PSAPs, cost saving may result from having to purchase fewer components to connect the PSAP to the interoperable radio system. The study team reviewed the Metropolitan Radio Board budgets for the metropolitan jurisdictions that are planning on being, or have been, connected to the State’s digital trunked radio system.

On average, they had budgeted between $500,000 and $800,000 for equipment to connect to the system. The cost incurred for purchase of radios, however, would not change because they need to be purchased for each individual officer or vehicle. Based on these numbers, if consolidation reduced the number of PSAPs in the metro area, it could also save money by reducing the number of connections to the digital trunked radio system.

The dollar figure per PSAP connection to the digital trunked radio systems only applies to the metropolitan area. The costs to connect with an interoperable or digital trunked radio system for agencies that decide to participate in the system in Greater Minnesota are still undetermined. The study team heard cost amounts ranging from $100,000 to

$500,000 to connect to the digital trunked radio system as part of a total replacement. It should be noted that a basic connection to the statewide radio system to provide a

patching capability to their existing system could be accomplished more economically by installing a radio control station at a cost of approximately $10,000. Some cost for

connection to an interoperable system like ARMER’s digital trunked radio would be likely but the impact on consolidation is undetermined.

The larger concern in Greater Minnesota is the potential overall cost of the digital trunked radio system versus the perceived benefit. The cost of Phase 1 of the metro system for the backbone was approximately $36 million. The Metropolitan Radio Board reports an additional cost of $31 million for the various subsystems in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.⁶⁵ Although the metropolitan numbers cannot be applied to Greater Minnesota, the size of the numbers causes concern to those considering a digital trunked radio system.

There is an additional concern about the $2,000 to $5,000 per radio price range for a portable digital 800 MHz radio, which is higher than the $700 to $1000 for a VHF analog portable radio, commonly used today in Greater Minnesota.

CONCLUSIONS

Public safety entities across the country and the State of Minnesota are working to craft solutions to interoperability issues in an attempt to improve public safety. Interoperability would make PSAP consolidation easier by removing communication barriers, as well as

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by providing a range of cooperative options that could eventually lead to consolidation.

Consolidation could affect interoperability by potentially reducing the costs of upgrading to a digital trunked radio system.

Additionally, the move toward interoperability is currently serving as a factor to consolidation for Twin Cities metropolitan area cities that want to be on the digital trunked radio system but cannot afford the upgrade costs on their own. However, the study team consistently found skepticism about the statewide interoperable system in many parts of Greater Minnesota. While these were partially operational concerns about whether it would work in their area, skepticism centered on whether the digital trunked radio system would meet their needs well enough to be worth the cost that they believe they may have to pay. In addition, the time frame for expanding the statewide digital trunked radio system to much of Greater Minnesota is sufficiently far off that few jurisdictions with PSAPs in Greater Minnesota are likely to make any PSAP consolidation decisions on the basis of moving to the statewide system.

As the state works toward moving its interoperable radio system to Greater Minnesota, officials in local jurisdictions want the state to listen carefully to their needs and consider the variety of interoperable solutions available to address those needs. Their concerns need to be considered along with the potential advantages of the State’s interoperable radio communication system.

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