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<br />SECTION IV <br />CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> <br />4.1 GENERAL CONCLUSION <br /> <br />Anoka County cannot continue to use the existing public safety radio systems without <br />enhancement or complete replacement. Radio coverage is a major problem for the fire service <br />and law enforcement. Lack of sufficient coverage, particularly when using portable radios on a <br />belt inside a building is a necessity and is becoming more significant as a need in the more rural <br />parts of the County as continuing population growth occurs. Congestion on law enforcement <br />channels is at a critical level and must be relieved as soon as possible. Congestion will be worse <br />every year as the population grows and as the County becomes more urbanized. Much of the <br />fixed location radio equipment; including the transmitters and receivers, antennas and <br />transmission lines; are past the end of their useful life and need to be replaced. Emergency <br />power must be provided at remote radio sites. More than half of the mobile and portable radios <br />in use in the fire service and in law enforcement will be at or past the end of their useful life <br />within three or four years and will need to be replaced. Therefore, the issue is not whether <br />something needs to be done, but rather what is the best direction to follow in providing the <br />critical improvements that are needed by public safety entities in Anoka County for improved <br />effectiveness and efficiency and the highest level of safety for personnel. <br /> <br />4.2 TETRA <br /> <br />It is recommended that TETRA not be considered as a long-term direction chosen by Anoka <br />County. There are too many unknowns related to TETRA in the United States to choose that as <br />the direction at this time. It is likely that a TETRA system will be in the same cost area as use of <br />the MnlDOT 800 MHz system, and use of TETRA would mean that Anoka County radio users <br />will likely have a difficult time intercommunicating with non-TETRA radio users operating <br />outside Anoka County. It is also unlikely that Anoka County will be able to obtain enough radio <br />frequencies to build a system that will meet the needs. <br /> <br />The European manufacturers of TETRA radio equipment will strive to overcome the obstacles so <br />that they can market that technology in North America. It is therefore recommended that Anoka <br />County officials continue to monitor TETRA developments for applicability of the technology as <br />a long-term direction. <br /> <br />Ronald Vegemast Engineering, Inc. <br /> <br />-33- <br /> <br />Report: Anoka County <br />