Bibb County E-911 radio to connect with surrounding counties emergency frequencies

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Bibb county wants to expand its radio system to surrounding counties to better respond to emergencies.

Peach and Monroe Counties have agreed to join Bibb County’s 800 mega hertz radio system. One of the advantages of joining is maintaining a low cost.

“This is the first step in developing the partnership that will lead to a regional emergency communication system,” says Chris Floore, of Macon-Bibb Public Affairs.

The radio service cost around eight million dollars and was paid for with Special Local Option Sales Tax funds.

The Macon-Bibb County Emergency 911 Director, Keith Moffett says the more counties that participate in the Central Georgia Interoperable Regional Radio System the less it will cost to operate.

Moffett says another major advantage of the regional radio system is reliability of distress calls reaching nearby radio towers.

“What we’re trying to do is further grow the system to where we have those partnerships in place that if things do happen, then we can partner off their system,” says Moffett.

There is no timeline as to when Peach and Monroe counties will be included in the new system.