MSCommNet - Statewide Radio Network Upgrade
By Tom Driscoll, OIT Radio Project Office, MSCommNet Outreach Coordinator
The State of Maine Office of Information Technology (OIT) Radio Services and MSCommNet team sponsored a successful series of statewide outreach sessions in October to communicate directly with local partners interested in MSCommNet. MSCommNet is the OIT Maine State Communications Network project.
About the sessions. These well attended sessions were held in Presque Isle, Orono, Portland and Augusta by over 100 people from around the state representing: 26 towns and cities, 11 counties, 9 radio vendors, 2 federal agencies, and 11 state agencies.
Speakers. OIT speakers were Chief Technology Officer Greg McNeal, Network Services Director Wayne Gallant, Radio Services Director Shawn Romanoski, and Project Office Manager Craig Hitchings. Key representatives from the contracted systems integrator Harris Corporation were also in attendance so that OIT could provide clear technical answers to a full array of questions.
Q&A online. Questions and answers (Q&A) from the sessions are posted online at http://www.maine.gov/oit/services/radio/mscommnet/faq/index.html . These Q&A are arranged by category: System Strategy and Design, Frequencies, Coverage and Towers, Interoperability, Interoperability with Maine State Police (MSP), RegionNet, Fire, Equipment, Finance, and Training.
If you have a question. Anyone with questions about MSCommNet can submit a query at the website. The MSCommNet team will answer promptly and directly; and, may also post that Q&A to the website. Ask a Question?
Future outreach sessions. MSCommNet intends to sponsor a similar series of statewide outreach sessions during the Fall of 2010. By that time, the first tower site construction season will be wrapping up, and the engineering design will be more advanced.
Switchover to the new system. MSCommNet is planned to be fully up and running by the Fall of 2012, in time to meet the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) mandate for switchover from “wideband VHF (very high frequency)” to “narrowband VHF” frequencies by midnight December 31, 2012.
About the project. The State is four years into a process to develop and commission a unified state land mobile radio network for state law enforcement, public safety, and public service agencies. The MSCommNet system is being designed to accommodate continued interoperability with other public partners.
The new system will utilize significant portions of the state's existing communications infrastructure with a modern technical foundation that addresses current and future technical needs, regulatory compliance, and business requirements.
MSCommNet is online at http://www.maine.gov/mscommnet
Contact Tom Driscoll at: tom.driscoll@maine.gov
