Issue | Background | Findings | Conclusions | Recommendations | Responses | Attachments Summary of Preparing for

All law enforcement personnel interviewed stated that the county-wide digital radio network does not currently perform as well as expected. The initial trial of digital radios by the Redwood City Police Department was marred by coverage gaps and the poor performance of handheld radios inside buildings. The Redwood City Police Department has subsequently switched to the digital radio network and is working with ISD to optimize its performance in Redwood City.

The proponents of the digital network in ISD believe the following. o The digital system offers capabilities not available with analog equipment, e.g., message encryption and data transmission. o Analog radio equipment will not perform as well as digital equipment with narrowband channels. o Their current efforts to improve system performance will correct both the real and perceived shortcomings.

Most of the local police departments are reluctant to forsake their existing analog radio systems and migrate to the County’s digital system because the digital system does not perform as well as their existing systems.

It is critically important that handheld radios function properly in all locations, including within buildings. Most local police departments have installed enough analog receivers to guarantee satisfactory performance of their current systems. 30

Some local police departments have purchased analog radios that are capable of either wide or narrowband operation, and those agencies have stated that they plan to convert their radios to narrowband channels when necessary, i.e., before 2013.

Local police departments have conducted some experiments with narrowband channels, and the results show that they can expect to successfully convert their existing analog networks to conform to the FCC mandate.

There is a significant difference in the cost of the two types of radio: a mobile radio suitable for use on the county digital network costs roughly three times as much ($3500 vs. $1200) as an analog radio used by local police departments. A digital receiving/transmitting station costs more than an analog station. The station recently added atop the Hall of Justice cost approximately $500,000.

When officers from different local police departments communicate by radio, their conversations must travel over the County digital network. The call originates from a handheld or mobile radio and is transmitted as an analog signal to a base station. There the signal is digitized and transmitted over the County digital network to a base station in the second jurisdiction. The signal is then converted back to analog and transmitted to an officer in the field.

The typical life of base station radios is 12 to 15 years. Mobile radios typically last seven to ten years and handheld radios five to seven years. Analog radio technology is mature and will be less commonly used in 20 years. Digital radio technology is much newer and is still evolving. It is expected to become less expensive in the future and it may eventually replace analog technology. Conclusions

It is essential that the acknowledged performance shortcomings of the County’s digital radio network be corrected so that the safety of officers in the field is not compromised.

Local police departments are correct to insist that any radio technology they employ must provide excellent performance with both mobile and handheld radios.

The analog radio users that plan to convert their radios to narrowband operation need to know with certainty that narrowband analog equipment will perform satisfactorily and meet future requirements. 31

The proponents of the digital radio network and the users of the many analog radio networks disagree on whether analog radios will perform satisfactorily with narrowband channels

Given the interdependence of the radio users and the climate of changing radio technology, the parties involved need to manage the evolution of the public safety communication system with minimum disruption and maximum efficiency

It is essential that the acknowledged performance shortcomings of the County’s digital radio network be corrected so that the safety of officers in the field is not compromised.

Local police departments are correct to insist that any radio technology they employ must provide excellent performance with both mobile and handheld radios.

The analog radio users that plan to convert their radios to narrowband operation need to know with certainty that narrowband analog equipment will perform satisfactorily and meet future requirements. 31

The proponents of the digital radio network and the users of the many analog radio networks disagree on whether analog radios will perform satisfactorily with narrowband channels

Given the interdependence of the radio users and the climate of changing radio technology, the parties involved need to manage the evolution of the public safety communication system with minimum disruption and maximum efficiency

Addition of a transmitter site at the Hall of Justice site

Addition of a receiver at the Redwood City Cross site

Addition of conventional repeaters at Montara and San Gregorio radio sites (in progress)

The Mutual Aid Communication Enhancement (MACE) project will expand portable coverage on Mutual Aid Channels (in progress) ISD will continue to add and/or improve radio coverage as new requirements are identified. 1.2. The Sheriff and ISD work together with local police departments to ensure that communication systems in the County will comply with the FCC regulations that take effect in 2013 and will match or exceed the performance of existing radio systems. Response: Concur. The Sheriff’s Office and County ISD will work with members of the Communications and Technology subcommittee of the San Mateo County Police Chiefs & Sheriff Association towards compliance with 2013 FCC regulations. SSAANN MMAATTEEOO CCOOUUNNTTYY PPOOLLIICCEE CCHHIIEEFFSS && SSHHEERRIIFFFF AASSSSOOCCIIAATTIIOONN Hon. Stephen M. Hall Judge of the Superior Court Hall of Justice 400 County Center; 2nd Floor Redwood City, CA 94063-1655 September 09, 2006 Dear Judge Hall, Thank you for the opportunity to review the 2005-2006 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury’s report on the FCC mandated changes in law enforcement radio networks for San Mateo County. On behalf of the San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriff Association, I applaud the Grand Jury’s efforts and concern for the future communications needs of law enforcement. For many years now, the Communications & Technology subcommittee of the Chiefs Association as well as the Communications Managers Association has kept radio coverage issues at the forefront of our respective agendas. Over the years, we have also been closely tracking the evolving dates of mandatory FCC frequency re-farming requirements. As memory serves, in the early 1990’s it was announced that there was a mandatory narrow band migration date set for 1998. That date was then postponed out to 2004 and of course as we know now, that revised migration date is January 1, 2013. All the while, SMCO agencies were positioning themselves to budget and acquire base station, mobile and portable radio units that would meet or exceed the inevitability of the FCC narrow band migration requirements. At the time of this writing, most of the cities within San Mateo County already possess the equipment necessary to meet or exceed the aforementioned 2013 mandate. Those that do not have all the radio equipment have budgeted capital replacement radio plans that will ensure they do. The biggest challenge that faces us relative to the 2013 mandate is the well planned, synchronized and timely switch over of all the base stations, mobile and portable radio units to narrow band for all the cities using analog systems. This county-wide coordinated effort will be developed and orchestrated by representatives of the Communications & Technology committee who will then work with the individual cities to ensure an orderly conversion. I feel that the recommendations in the Grand Jury’s report (1; 1.1; 1.2; 2; & 3) are both reasonable and forward thinking. We are in agreement on all the suggested points. The membership of the San Mateo County Police Chiefs & Sheriff Association are committed to providing the citizens of San Mateo County with the highest quality emergency services possible, and complying with the 2013 FCC mandate is one piece of this strategy which we are aggressively meeting head-on. Thank you again for allowing me to review and respond to the report prepared by the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury and please pass on my thanks to them for the outstanding work that they perform. Sincerely, Chief Matthew O’Connor, President San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriff Association cc: Members, San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriff Association September 26, 2006 Hon. Stephen M. Hall Judge of the Superior Court Hall of Justice 400 County Center: 2nd Floor Redwood City, CA 94063-1655 Dear Judge Stephen M. Hall: In February 2006 and at the request of the Grand Jury, the Town of Atherton responded to the Analog to Digital conversion of police radio systems. On July 24, 2006, we received the completed report that was a compilation of the input from the cities throughout the County. The Town of Atherton is in agreement with the findings, conclusions and recommendations made by the Grand Jury. In my opinion, it is inevitable that radio technology will migrate to narrow band width and the digital format. As you are aware, most of the cities and towns in San Mateo County are smaller in area, population and employ less staff than the counties that surround us. The cost of the conversion will continue to be the biggest obstacle to individual jurisdictions as we approach the 2013 deadline. As pointed out in the report, the County and Redwood City spent $24 million on a system that services just two jurisdictions out of the 21 within San Mateo County. An estimate for the Town of Atherton to convert to the digital format is in excess of $700,000 and continued service costs during the life of the system. In personnel terms, that equals at least 7 police officer FTE’s. With an authorized sworn staff of 23, it would have a devastating affect on departments our size. I have been encouraged by the information coming from the Federal Government regarding the Homeland Security dollars being spent on compatible communications systems (Interoperability) for both Fire and Police. It is critical that the county spend these dollars toward a county wide digital system not only to defray costs to the cities and towns, but to create a Bay Area wide system that can serve all public safety. Sincerely, Robert J. Brennan Atherton Police Chief November 9, 2006 Honorable Stephen M. Hall Judge of the Superior Court Hall of Justice 400 County Center, 2nd Floor Redwood City, CA 94063-1655 Re: 2005 – 2006 Grand Jury Report - Preparing for FCC-Mandated Changes in County Law Enforcement Radio Networks Dear Judge Hall: The Town of Portola Valley has reviewed the above captioned Grand Jury Report and on behalf of the Town Council, I offer the Town’s response. The Town of Portola Valley does not operate its own radio system and is therefore not directly impacted by the FCC mandate concerning the bandwidth change. We receive our police services through a contract with the County of San Mateo and this includes radio service. We are fully prepared, however, to work cooperatively with the Sheriff and all other law enforcement agencies to ensure that the FCC mandate is met on a county-wide basis. We thank the Grand Jury for bringing this to our attention. Please call our Town Administrator, Angela Howard, if you need more information. Sincerely, Steve Toben Mayor cc: Town Council Town Administrator Town Attorney July 26, 2006 The Honorable Stephen M. Hall Judge of the Superior Court Hall of Justice 400 County Center, 2nd Floor Redwood City, CA 94063-1655 RE: 2005-06 GRAND JURY REPORT – PREPARING FOR FCC-MANDATED CHANGES IN COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT RADIO NETWORKS AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TRAINING FOR THE RESIDENTS OF CITIES OF SAN MATEO COUNTY Dear Judge Hall: The Town of Woodside received a copy of each of the above captioned Grand Jury Reports on July 19, 2006, and the staff has studied the reports and recommendations contained therein. On behalf of the Town Council, I would like to offer the Town’s formal response. The Town of Woodside does not operate its own radio system and is therefore not directly impacted by the FCC mandate concerning the bandwidth change. We receive our police services through a contract with the County of San Mateo and this includes radio service. We are fully prepared, however, to work cooperatively with the Sheriff and all other law enforcement agencies to ensure that the FCC mandate is met on a county-wide basis. We thank the Grand Jury for bringing this to our attention. The Town of Woodside is served by the Woodside Fire Protection District and the Citizens for Emergency Response and Preparedness Program (CERPP). The Town was instrumental in the formation of CERPP in the late 1990’s and has provided over $60,000 in direct financial support to the organization, in addition to staff support. We remain committed to CERPP’s success and continuing training programs. It is gratifying to see that CERPP is responsible for one of the most active disaster preparedness training programs in the County. The members of the Town Council are also individually supportive of CERPP’s mission and we are willing to commit ourselves to the training recommended by the Grand Jury in order to demonstrate leadership in this area. On behalf of the Town Council, I would like to extend our thanks to the Grand Jury for its work and for an opportunity to respond to the work of the 2005-06 Grand Jury. Please do not hesitate to call our Town Manager, Susan George, should you require any further information. Sincerely, Deborah Gordon Mayor Town of Woodside