(Atlantic) Cass County recently signed a contract with Motorola to connect with the Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System. It provides public safety agencies, first responders around the state with unprecedented connectivity.
Cass County Communications Director Mike Kennon is taking a step-by-step approach towards upgrading the county’s radio system. Kennon dished out dual-band radio’s compatible with this system as well as the old VHS system. The County’s Fire Department has a varying degree of these radios in hand as well. Kennon says a limited number of receivers now exist in the Communications Center. “We’re installing a Motorola console which will open the world of the Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System to us,” said Kennon.
The Communication Center will soon have access to everything available on the ISICS network.“I’m looking forward to getting this upgraded system running,” said Kennon. “This is a process and it won’t be up and running until the end of this year.”
Kennon says issues currently exist with the county fire department’s ability to communicate with law enforcement because some agencies have the old VHS radio, and others have a digital device that isn’t compatible. He says that, without the upgrade, law enforcement couldn’t efficiently talk to the Iowa State Patrol, also going entirely to the Statewide Radio System. He says the system initially is built for the State Police and Iowa Department of Transportation, and the counties are piggy-backing onto the system.
The new system is cleaner, provides a better range, and necessary if the FCC narrows the band again, the current radio system will become obsolete.
