Los Angeles News

60 Freeway Brush Fire

E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

L.A. Fire To Upgrade Radio Communications Systems

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

Recipient E-mail:*
- Your Name:*
- Your E-mail:*
Add a Message:
Send me a copy of this e-mail.

Type the characters in this picture:*

Click here to refresh with new letters

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

Print Share + Comments

Oct 20, 2009 6:39 pm US/Pacific

L.A. Fire To Upgrade Radio Communications Systems

LOS ANGELES

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: CBS

Close

numSlides of totalImages

The Los Angeles County Fire Department will spend $6.2 million to upgrade its radio communications systems, in a move approved by the Board of Supervisors today.

The agency will buy five exclusive VHF radio frequencies for $2.2 million to enhance communication between local, state and federal agencies during wildfires.

Its VHF communications infrastructure will be upgraded to prepare for new narrowband radio technology required by the Federal Communications Commission. The upgrade must in place by January 2013 to comply with FCC regulations and will cost $2.5 million.

The balance, $1.5 million, will be used to replace outdated dispatch equipment and allow the sheriff's and fire departments to share dispatch systems, if needed.

Over the last three years, the fire department has replaced and upgraded its portable and mobile radio systems at a cost of $15 million.

The spending was unanimously approved on a 5-0 vote.