In "Boteman's" response to a  12/29 posting by Steve Rigby on scan-dc
concerning failure of new 800 MHz trunked public safety systems he
stated:

"The politicians typically making these decisions are not
technically inclined, and in a surprising number of cases do
not hire decent consultants to study what is needed, so they
buy an insufficient system. ...

In other cases, they simply ignore what anyone says because
they feel like kids in a candy store and just have to have
the shiny new stuff. I think this is what is going on in
Fauquier County, but I haven't followed closely enough to know for
certain."

In Fauquier's case we had several consultants (Griffen and CTA) but they
deliver the system the customer asks for and in Fauquier's case the
Sheriff's desire for an 800 MHz digital trunked system was clear from
the get-go. Motorola and Region 20 were also clear in their wishes for
our County. We got no encouragement from either toward alternatives.
(When did Region 20 help anyone get anywhere with VHF or UHF system
improvements?)We even got lousy (no-bid) maintenance on the existing
low-band system so that a move to a totally new system was seen as
critical for safety. The consultant proposed 4-, 5-, and 6-site
scenarios but he himself stated the 4-site system would give "acceptable
coverage". That was the scenario he submitted to Region 20 for
coordination.

As for "they simply ignore what anyone says" that is especially true in
Fauquier. A systems analyst and a former FBI radio engineer challenged
Sheriff Joe Higgs and Chairman of the Board Ray Graham to debate the
merits of their 800MHz proposal. They both refused. Numerous op-ed
pieces criticized the proposal but no one from the County defended their
own actions. They don't have to; they have the power and citizens don't.
Even if citizens had the attention of government, citizens will not see
the contract the County is proposing to Motorola until it is signed by
the County and Motorola. Citizens won't be along with the consultant and
Motorola when the acceptance testing is done. Actual in-building testing
is not required by the RFP. Even the testing methodology is not fixed in
the RFP and thus subject to advance citizen comment. "Trust us" is the
motto here.

No wonder citizens and public safety users get unpleasantly suprised
with new 800 mhz systems. Predictably, re-engineering brings more work
for the consultant and more sales for the vendor. At least someone is
sure to be pleased.


Regards, Jim Borland

Jim Borland
Editor
FauquierNews.com
540-364-3671
mailto:FauquierNews@starpower.net

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