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the regional system is elected. At the same time, analog subscriber radios (mobile radios, portable radios and RF control stations) will be less expensive than the digital modulation radios that will be needed if the County governments subscribe for service on the regional subnetwork. It is probable, however, that the differential in cost between analog trunked radios and digital trunked radios will narrow in the future. It is therefore considered probable that the total cost to implement an 800 MHz trunked radio system, which will be the cost for the infrastructure and the cost for the subscriber radios, may be about the same total amount. While audio clarity may not be as good with digital modulation radios, subscription for service from the regional system can provide a higher level of intersystem intercommunications, wider area scanning, region -wide roaming instead of roaming only within the County, and a full range of advanced features only available if digital modulation radios are used. • The licenses for the 800 MHz radio frequencies usable in Anoka County will require that the system be constructed and in use by some time in 2002 or the FCC may allow any other eligible entity to license and use those frequencies. • The Minnesota Legislature has exempted radio equipment purchased for use with the regional 800 MHz trunked radio system from sales taxes through July 31, 2003. We therefore recommend that governments in Anoka County plan to migrate to the regional 800 MHz trunked radio system in about the year 2002 or 2003. Installation of the infrastructure and beneficial use of the system using portable radios in 2002 will protect the frequency licenses. Completion of the installation of the mobile radios by July 31, 2003 will save hundred of thousands of dollars in sales taxes. Implementation in the 2002 / 2003 time frame can prevent significant expenditures for enhancement of existing systems that will be of no value when migration to a trunked radio system occurs. It is further recommended that no expensive enhancements of existing systems be planned prior to the migration to an 800 MHz system." 1.2 PROJECT OBJECTIVE There have been several significant developments since the 1997 project was completed. In late 1998, the Federal Communications Commission issued a set of rules referred to as "Refarming ". The refarming rules provide a way to subdivide existing radio frequency bandwidth so that for many existing frequencies, two new frequencies can be created and used. In addition, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) 800 MHz radio system details are now known as the bidding process for that system has been completed and implementation of the system is underway. If Anoka County is to take advantage of the exemption on paying sales taxes for equipment to be used as part of the Mn/DOT 800 MHz radio system, then engineering work should begin in early 2001 at the latest. As a result, the Anoka County Board of Commissioners decided that the issues related to public safety land mobile radio communications in Anoka County should be reanalyzed. The new analysis should consider whether or not improvements in public safety radio systems are required, and if so, can the necessary improvements be accomplished through enhancement of existing systems or should the existing systems be replaced by migration to the Mn/DOT 800 MHz radio system. The objective for this project is to present recommendations to the Anoka County Board of Commissioners based on this analysis with the new information considered. Ronald Engineering, Ve emasi n , Inc. -5- Report: Anoka County 8 8 8