HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0522.007 2002-2004 rr ory
Harry Kim - Lawrence K. ifahuna
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t!avor Police Chief
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Depufj~olicaChief
County of Hawaii -
POLICE DEPARTMENT -O
349 Kapiolani Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720-3998 _ ~ ~
(808) 935-3311 Fax (808) 961-2389 ~ ~
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April 30, 2004
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TO 0, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
FROM E K. MAHUNA, POLICE CHIEF
SUBJECT: RADIO SYSTEM
The Managing Director asked that I provide you with an explanation for our
Department's intention to develop a trunked land mobile radio system in the 700
MHz band as opposed to the 800 MHz band. Primarily, we were driven by a
federal initiative to provide bandwidth in the 700 MHz spectrum specifically for
public safety.
The State of Hawaii has committed to the 700 MHz public safety radio band, and
the County is a member of the 700 MHz Regional Planning Committee which is
responsible for developing a spectrum allocation plan. The 700 MHz Band Plan
encourages interoperability and is the first and only State and local Public Safety
band that can be shared with federal government users. Currently, there are
more available channels in the 700 MHz band to support interoperability. The
700 MHz Band Plan provides for both high speed and wideband data.
Another concern is that an 800 MHz system will require more tower sites for the
same area of coverage than would a 700 MHz system.
Finally, there have been serious interference issues with public safety broadcasts
in the 800 MHz band, primarily with some of the cellular phone providers. With
the proliferation of cellular phone sites supporting the various Personal
Communications Services (PCS), the net result is that some of the PCS
companies overpower the 800 MHz trunked radio system, leaving
communication gaps in the public safety system. With the use of the 700 MHz
spectrum, this interference will be minimal or hopefully non-existent.
Comm. No. ?it•
Ref. To: rqe
"An Gyual Opportunity Provider" Ref, DCIe
MR. ROY TAKEMOTO
APRIL 30, 2004
PAGE 2
One other concern for law enforcement is the relatively weak penetration of the
signal in the 800 MHz bandwidth in commercial establishments and other large
structures.
If there are any questions, please feel free to contact Acting Assistant Chief Elroy
Osorio at 961-2262.
LKM/ETLO:Ivm
c: Harry Kim, Mayor
Aaron S. Y. C~ung, Chair, Committee on Finance
~Iil~c, ice Chair
James Y. Arakaki, Member
Leningrad Elarionoff, Member
Fred C. Holschuh, Member
Bob Jacobson, Member
Joe Reynolds, Member
Michael C. Tulang, Member
J. Curtis Tyler, III, Member