Montgomery County signs contracts for countywide radio system; rollout expected in 30–36 months
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Summary
County officials said contracts have been signed for a new countywide radio system that will operate in the 700/800 MHz band, with full deployment expected in about 30 to 36 months. Agencies were advised not to buy standard UHF radios now; multiband public-safety radios will be backwards compatible with UHF.
Montgomery County officials told an emergency services meeting that contracts have been signed for a countywide radio system and that the system’s full rollout is expected in about 30 to 36 months.
Officials said the new system will operate in the 700/800 MHz radio bands. The county advised local agencies that existing UHF radios will not be forward-compatible with the new system; public-safety personnel will be issued new multiband radios that are backwards compatible with UHF, while agencies that buy UHF-only radios now may find them obsolete within the projected deployment window.
A county staff member who briefed the commission said the county and the two towns are “really on board with the project” and that elected officials and the regional authority board support the work. The presenter said that the county agreed not to order radios until after next July but encouraged departments with new vehicles or immediate needs to coordinate with county staff before buying equipment so installations are compatible with the future system.
The briefing included practical notes for departments installing radios in new apparatus: different manufacturers and preinstalled cabling can complicate late installs. County staff suggested agencies contact the county technology or emergency communications staff before modifying new vehicles to avoid incompatible purchases.
County officials said the authority board and elected leaders view the project as a long-term improvement that will help first responders communicate across the county and in adjoining jurisdictions. No additional procurement dates were specified at the meeting; staff said ordering of radios would be re-opened after the July milestone noted above.
Next steps described at the meeting include coordination between county staff and individual agencies on installation timing and compatibility; a formal deployment schedule and additional training plans were not specified during the update.