Baldwin County Works Toward New Emergency Radio System

New mandates for emergency radio systems are costing Middle Georgia communities a lot of money.

The change will improve existing radio systems and focus on public safety.

The FCC requirement will impact anyone with a radio license. Without the upgrade, they could lose up to 25% of communication in the county.

“We have constant communications with EMS, firefighters, with police officers, with deputy sheriff’s, we’re responding to calls to assist the public and when we don’t have good communications it’s a dramatic effect on public safety,” said Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee.

The technology currently used is the Conventional VHF Repeater System, but with outdated equipment, it’s a challenge to keep everything operational.

“Well the new system that we’re actually looking at is the P25 Motorola system and we would be tying in with several other counties, we’d be a regional system and we would go from broad band which is what we are now to a narrow band and the quality of radio communication would be ten times better than what we have now,” said Baldwin County Captain of Support Services Lynnette LaRocque.

The total cost to convert to the new system could be as much as $5 million. A SPLOST was passed to help towards funding. Sheriff Massee says they are also trying to get a federal grant.