The Sun Journal
CANTON, Maine — Fire chief and Selectman Shane Gallant expressed frustration Thursday night over the Federal Communications Commission order requiring public safety radios to switch to narrowband frequencies by Jan. 1, 2013.
“We are all confused about the proposed switch to narrowband. I would like a big meeting where we can find out how this new program is going to operate,” Gallant told the board.
“If I understand it correctly, I will have to physically search channels until I find one with the strongest signal while I am on the way to an emergency,” he said. “It’s just another thing to do while we are trying to do our job.”
Gallant contended that it will cost the town lots of money if it has to buy new radios. He said the town has all 12 of its available channels filled with emergency numbers and adding another 10 would be impossible.
According to the Maine Emergency Management Agency website, the FCC has mandated that almost all radios operating in the Public Safety and Industrial Business licensing pools, between 150 MHz and 174 MHz, and 421-512 MHz, be programmed to operate on 12.5KHz channel spacing instead of the current 25KHz.
The reasons are to take advantage of new technology and promote better communications.
The transition, according to the website, will require equipment that can be programmed to operate on the modified frequency. In some cases current equipment can be reprogrammed; in others it will require new equipment.
The process to move to narrowband began in 1991 and the deadline for conversion was set in 2004, according to the MEMA website.
In another matter before the board, Emergency Management Director Jim Dyment said half the cots stored at the fire station have disappeared.
“We had 14 new cots and now there are only seven left. I managed to find seven more old ones, but I don’t know what shape they are in,” he said. The cots are for those needing emergency shelter.
The cots are on the upper floor, which is now locked.
Selectman Donny Hutchins said that was one of the best things they had done.
Gallant, representing the town, reported on the Med-Care ambulance service meeting Wednesday night.
“Med-Care looks to be in good shape and they are still looking for a much-needed larger facility,” he said. He also reported that Med-Care would have figures on that new facility before the annual town meeting.