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Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Communications Committee Meeting Minutes June 19, 2006 DRAFT |
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I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 10:07 a.m. at Lisle-Woodridge Station 1. Present were committee members Paul Maplethorpe, Round Lake; Dave Dato, Wauconda; Steve Rauter, Lisle-Woodridge; Gregg Riddle, IFCA; John Lozar, Ducomm; Bob Mierop, Bolingbrook; Dennis Higgins, Livingston County; Larry Matkaitis, OSFM; and Tom Mefferd, DuPage OEM. Also present were Joe Kirts, DuPage OEM and Paul Marshall, Mike Greenaway and Pat Hughes, Motorola, Inc.
II. Approve Prior Meeting Minutes
D/C Rauter moved to approve the May 15, 2006 minutes as presented. Second by B/C Mierop. All AYES; motion carried.
III. STARCOM21
Representatives from Motorola provided a status update on the installation and operations of the STARCOM21 radio system in Illinois. The following topics were discussed:
· Downstate portions of STARCOM21 network are operational. Illinois State Police are conducing testing. The target start date for ISP’s operations on STARCOM21 is 12/31/2006.
· Redundant system controllers are located in Collinsville, Springfield and Downers Grove.
· No fees will be charged for system use until after the State accepts STARCOM21, expected in the fourth quarter of 2006. After the system is accepted, fire departments will be allowed to use the network during approved drills and emergency response without incurring any cost. If a department begins to use the system inappropriately, Motorola will contact ITTF/IEMA who in turn will warn the offending department before any bills are issued.
· Statewide talkgroups, including MABAS & ILEAS, are truly statewide. Concerns were raised concerning loading issues when statewide talkgroups are active.
· Regional talkgroups are only regional.
· Incident Talkgroups are statewide.
· Roaming issues were raised concerning the ability for a unit to be recognized across the entire network. Motorola indicated that units should be recognized anywhere within the state.
· Plans are progressing to include VHF to STARCOM21 patches for ISPERN and IREACH. D/C Rauter raised strong concerns that these patches could create a ping-pong effect that would overload both the VHF and STARCOM21 networks. Motorola recognizes that the VHF patches could be problematic.
· Motorola advised that the State EOC would have control of the network to seize control of all radios and make pre-emptive announcements. Many concerns were raised over this issue, especially if public safety related radio traffic is pre-empted, including the need for this feature at all. This spurred considerable discussion about the true function of STARCOM21 for the majority of the State’s first responders. Mr. Mefferd reported that ITTF’s two objectives for STARCOM21 were notification via alerting and coordination of statewide response plans.
· Questions were raised about scanning talkgroups.
· Motorola reported that the fire department’s use of STARCOM21 was not intended for day-to-day operations.
· Additional talkgroups can be added to the system at no cost to ITTF/IEMA. Chief Maplethorpe reported that MABAS needs 3 talkgroups for MABAS, TRT and USAR. Motorola indicated that this would not be a problem, they only need authorization from Mike Chamness.
· A request was made to include MABAS as a member of the STARCOM21 user group.
· A long discussion ensued concerning the use of encryption, encryption keys and over the air programming.
· Training for use of the system was discussed. Motorola reported that two training sessions were held in southern Illinois that was based on radio operation. The Communications Committee concurred that a plan for the fire service’s use of STARCOM21 needs to be prepared before any additional training can be offered.
· Console installations are only XTL5000 mobiles with tone control interfaces. Control stations are not completely compatible with dispatch consoles. ILEAS has purchased 43 consolette dispatch consoles that will be fully compatible with most radio consoles.
IV. Chicago IFERN
Mr. Riddle questioned that status of Chicago programming the correct CTCSS tone on IFERN. He indicated that Chicago’s lack of proper CTCSS tone has caused numerous operational issues between suburban dispatch centers and Chicago’s fire dispatch center. Chief Maplethorpe reported that he has made contact with officials in Chicago to resolve this issue. He agreed to follow-up with Chicago.
V. Recommended Practice – Emergency/Evacuation Tone
Chief Maplethorpe reported that MABAS President Reardon requested the Emergency/Evacuation Tone advocacy statement be converted to a Recommended Practice.
D/C Rauter moved to approve the Emergency/Evacuation Tone statement as a Recommended Practice. Second by Mr. Riddle. All AYES; motion carried.
VI. Advocacy Statement - Interdivisional Request
No Report
VII. MABAS Radio Test Schedule
Chief Bouma was absent.
VIII. Old Business
A. MERCI Base Station Project
Chief Dato reported that approximately one third of the hospital MERCI base stations have been installed.
B. VHF Interoperability Radios
Chief Dato reported that Motorola has shipped boxes to all fire departments with return instructions for reprogramming.
Mr. Mefferd request that MABAS Communications Committee hold off on developing the proposed interoperability document because ITTF is working on a similar document.
C. Rock Island County
Chief Maplethorpe reported that most of the Rock Island fire departments have converted to their new dispatch frequency (154.310 MHz). One department is still using IFERN since their trustees will not pay to switch frequencies. B/C Mierop reported that Bolingbrook has some extra VHF portables available. D/C Rauter reported that Lisle-Woodridge has numerous Minitor I pagers on 154.310 available as well.
D. Southwest Central Dispatch
No report.
E. EMnet
Mr. Mefferd reported that EMnet for fire departments in Illinois remains the top priority of the ITTF Communications Committee. The ITTF Communications Committee will hold their next meeting on June 21st.
Mr. Mefferd also reported that the order has been placed for the 9-1-1 PSAP EMnet terminals. Only 90 of 210 PSAPs have requested EMnet terminals. Site surveys are underway. Installations are expected to be completed by November 30th.
F. IAFC/Top Priority
After a brief discussion, the Committee concluded that no official action will be taken concerning IAFC’s Top Priority report. D/C Rauter indicated that he may follow-up on the report on his own.
G. MABAS Dispatch Yahoo Group
Mr. Riddle agreed to prepare an advocacy statement concerning the MABAS Dispatch Yahoo group for forwarding to the Committee.
H. Statewide Radio License
Chief Maplethorpe reported that a position paper was prepared and forwarded to President Reardon concerning the additional frequencies desired for the MABAS statewide radio license. He is awaiting guidance from President Reardon.
I. Carbondale Area
No report
J. SIEC
The SIEC bill has not been signed by the Governor.
IX. New Business
None
X. Information for the Good of the Committee
APCO Fire Service Dispatch Course: D/C Rauter reported that APCO will be conducting their new fire service dispatch course in Bolingbrook. Information is available on the MABASRadio website.
ISO Dispatch Center Credit: D/C Rauter reported that an Excel spreadsheet has been developed to assist fire departments and dispatch centers with ISO grading preparations.
XI. Adjournment
Chief Maplethorpe moved to adjourn the meeting. Second by Chief Dato. All AYES; the meeting adjourned at 11:54 a.m.
The next meeting for the MABAS Communications Committee is scheduled for Monday, July 17, 2006 at 1000 hours. The location of the meeting will be at Lisle-Woodridge Fire Station 1. Please mark your calendars.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul Maplethorpe Co-Chair |