Case Study: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Microwave Network

Designing the Largest Private MIcrowave Network in the United States

 

The Client

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On September 11, 1996, the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee issued a report clearly defining the need for improved interoperability among the nation’s public safety agencies. Heeding this call, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania passed enabling legislation that same year to establish a statewide radio network to provide interoperable voice and data communications. This original legislation authorized $179 million in State funding to establish an interoperable system.

 

The Project

The system had to achieve the following objectives:

  • Replace multiple incompatible, technologically obsolete, radio systems within the Commonwealth with a single highly flexible, centrally managed statewide system using the most full-featured, reliable, and efficient wireless communications technology available
  • Implement a statewide wireless transport for mobile, hand-held, and fixed position radio communications
  • Provide system coverage of at least 95% by county throughout Pennsylvania for mobile radio communications
  • Create a framework for interoperable communications among agencies at various levels of government including intercommunication with county 9-1-1 centers and Regional Counter-Terrorism Task Forces
  • Make any spare system capacity available to county and municipal agencies and commercial organizations providing public safety support

 

Following the recommendation of a management consultant, the Commonwealth decided to assume the responsibility for integration of the system and established the Commonwealth Radio Project Office (RPO). The RPO was charged with the responsibility of implementing the new PA-STARNet system. Recognizing that the RPO required engineering and project management support, it sought the services of a qualified and experienced engineering firm to assist in the design and implementation of the system. RCC was chosen by the RPO through a competitive procurement process because of its experience with the design and implementation of large radio systems.

 

RCC's Role

RCC provided many important services for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during this project, including:

 

  • Design of a scalable, digital trunked 800 MHz system with use of radio frequencies highly optimized by interweaving multiple voice and data streams over a single channel through sophisticated computer control.
  • Design of high-capacity backhaul network consisting of a digital microwave infrastructure and long haul fiber optic network.
  • Full-time program management and quality assurance oversight.
  • Eliminated the traditional islands of voice communication among public safety agencies and between public safety and other essential services.
  • Helped the Commonwealth overcome communications gaps between its agencies and outside systems through interoperable communications bridges.