By Randall Higgins
Times Free Press 
Ind. agencies discuss joint 911

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Area counties from North Georgia to Knoxville are being asked to join a regionwide emergency communications network, Bradley County Emergency Management Agency Director Troy Spence says.

The interlocal cooperating agreement will be on the agenda Monday for a Bradley County Commission vote.

"It is a radio communications system that ties the communications of emergency services together," Mr. Spence told commissioners at a work session last week.

"It includes most of the counties we work with on a daily basis," Mr. Spence said.

The Chattanooga Police Department is the lead agency, he said, putting together the network with a series of grants worth more than $20 million.

"This is important because in 2011 the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is forcing us to change the way we do business today," he said. The FCC has plans to create a uniform, nationwide emergency communications network.

If the commission adopts the plan, the county mayor can sign the agreement and the county would appoint a member to the system's governing board.

"Obviously the manager would be Chattanooga," Commissioner Ben Atchley Jr. said.

Commissioner Lisa Stanbery expressed concern that the system could increase the county's cost.

Mr. Spence said he will be available Monday to answer her question and others.

More related:

N.M. county talks 911 dispatch
Ill. responders test Starcom21 radio system

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