Public Safety Interoperability Technology Summit
 The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) sponsored a Public Safety Interoperability Summit in June to share information regarding the development of interoperable wireless networks across the country. The summit heard presentations from several presenters from the Utah Communications Agency Network (UCAN). UCAN uses 800 MHz technology to provide voice communications for state and local agencies in Utah. UCAN was created in 1997 for that purpose.
The Rocky Mountain Radio Association has previously posted UCAN talk groups to their website so amateur hobbyists could scan UCAN communications. This was restricted during the Olymplics due to sensitive security issues. Radio hobbyists objected to the restrictions as censorship. I think there are probably still security issues with the network. UCAN pressured RMRA to remove the talk group frequencies from their website in June. Here are frequency scans posted in March. The frequencies are also posted here.
UCAN is independent from state government and is controlled by the fifteen member Board of Directors. Public Safety started working with Motorola, who began the process by drawing "footprints" of the various counties and agencies for coverage. Each area of the state was able to look at their footprint to make sure that it provided coverage that they needed in their areas. This was brought back together in a general overall plan of how much equipment would need to be purchased. After about a year and a half, a user fee was developed that was basedupon the total cost of the system minus the federal funds that have now been received. The balance worked out to $17.50 per radio on the system for local agencies and $30.00 for state agencies. These radios have the capability of having an open channel, as you move throughout the state so that contact can be maintained with the dispatch. It also has the capabilities to turn that off. The 800 MHZ radio can then be used to access any venue you are in. Communication will be opened up for all of the agencies that are using this system as they move about the state within a nine county area.
Presentation by Steve Proctor and Gary Whatcott on UCAN and the Olympics (audio - MP3)
We are now looking at developing a mobile data network on a different piece of spectrum. We have two tests going on this week and expect to have several thousand customers by the end of the year.
Alternative Frequencies for Use by Public Safety Agencies - NTIA
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