Illinois Terrorism Task Force awards $3.4 million for local emergency radios
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ The Illinois Terrorism Task Force (ITTF) announced today that 156 local emergency response agencies will receive more than $3.4 million to help them comply with federal communications requirements. The grants were recently awarded by the ITTF using federal homeland security funds the state receives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The funds will be used to replace in-service, non-narrowband compliant VHF and UHF public safety base station/repeater radios and mobile radios with comparable narrowband equipment. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated all non-federal public safety licensees using 25 kHz radio systems migrate to narrowband 12.5 kHz channels by Dec.31, 2012.
The move is intended to relieve congestion and result in increased channel availability for public safety VHF/UHF systems. If public safety agencies do not make the move to narrowband channels they may face a loss of communications capabilities as FCC interference rules will not protect wideband systems from harmful interference.
"Complying with the FCC's narrowbanding mandate could be difficult for many first responder agencies around the state who are dealing with tight budgets," said Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the state's Homeland Security Advisor. "In keeping with Gov. Quinn's commitment to protecting the public, these grants will help local public safety agencies ensure vital emergency communications capabilities are protected after Dec. 31, 2012."
Narrowbanding Assistance Grants awarded to accredited emergency management agencies were funded through the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) program, while grants awarded to other response organizations were made with Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) funding. Both of those grants required a 50 percent local match because of federal grant rules. Grants awarded to response organizations in Cook County were funded through the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and are not required to have a 50 percent local match.
Response agencies receiving Narrowband Assistance Grants with PSIC funds, which require a 50 percent local match, include:
Local Agency
Sparta Police Dept
Randolph
$10,268.54