MABAS Special Communications Committee
Meeting Minutes
April 21, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. at Lisle-Woodridge Fire Station 1. Present were committee members Paul Maplethorpe, Round Lake; Steve Rauter, Lisle-Woodridge; John Lozar, Ducomm; Dave Riddle, Channahon; Bill Bouma, Mount Pleasant; and Gregg Riddle, IFCA Communications Committee.
A discussion was held concerning the Committee’s website at www.mabasradio.org. After initial concern from the MABAS Executive Board, it appears the website has been well received. Additional information and links have been added to the site. The committee thanked A/C Rauter for his excellent work and Lisle-Woodridge FPD for hosting the website.
The upcoming TOPOFF2 drill was discussed. Chief Maplethorpe reported that communications evaluators are needed to monitor and evaluate the MABAS and fire service response to the drill on May 15th, from a communications perspective. Interested individuals should contact Chiefs Maplethorpe or Dato as soon as possible.
Communications for IEMA/MABAS Task Force deployments was discussed. It was felt that MABAS should send a reminder through the MABAS e-mail net that these task force deployments are not to be toned on the IFERN frequency and responding units are not to use IFERN except in an emergency. It was suggested that a logarithm be prepared showing the various methods of information dissemination that can be used. It was recognized that if all else fails, IFERN could be used as the last resort.
Non IEMA/MABAS task force deployments (the old inter-divisional box alarms) were discussed. Specifically how these would be dispatched as compared to IEMA task force deployment. It was felt that this requires attention from the MABAS Executive Board and should be forwarded to D/C Tonne.
The committee concurred that the TOPOFF2 drill communications would be discussed again post drill to determine if any changes to procedure or communications systems is warranted.
Letters of concurrence for radio frequency coordinators addressing the MABAS specified frequencies was discussed. A/C Rauter and John Lozar will draft a boiler plate letter for the committee’s consideration.
The use of fireground frequency 153.830 MHz was discussed. It has been licensed for repeater input mobile operation in Iowa. The committee concurred that the FCC should re-evaluate its action that lifted prior restrictions for that frequency. A/C Rauter will discuss this matter with communications attorney Robert Gurss that represents APCO and Ducomm.
MABAS Communications Committee
Meeting Minutes 04/21/03 Page 2
Advocacy Statement #6 (CTCSS Tones) and Amendment 1 to Advocacy Statement #1 were discussed. It was felt they are good as prepared and action to approve by the MABAS Executive Board will be requested at the April 24th quarterly meeting.
The status of relocating Division 15 primary dispatch from BLUE fireground was discussed. They are waiting to see if promised funding through MABAS will be available. Cost estimates will be prepared utilizing both wide and narrow band frequencies. Hopefully D/C Tonne will be able to attend the May 22nd committee meeting to further discuss funding.
The meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 22, 2003 at 1000 hours at Lisle-Woodridge Station 1. Please mark your calendars.