FIRE RADIO FREQUENCY COORDINATION
Fire radio communications is a major concern of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. The lAFC’s communications committee is actively involved in legislation, codes, ordinances, and technologies to improve fire service communications.
In the last three years, the committee also has become strongly involved with the issue of frequency coordination Few fire chiefs understand what frequency coordination is or why it is needed, only becoming involved if a problem develops.
What is frequency coordination?
Frequency coordination was begun by the Federal Communi cations Commission to provide user input and coordination to overcome the problem of extremely limited spectrum space in the mobile radio field. When the FCC could no longer keep up with the increasing number of radio frequencies being used, representative groups, or private coordinators, were appointed
Frequency coordination for the fire service is done by the FCC’s representative, the International Municipal Signal Assoc iation. The Association of Public Safety Communic ation Officers (APCO) also handles fire coordination in addition to police, forestry, conservation and local government. Other public safety coordination service groups, a branch of the private coordinators, inclucie the Forestry Conservation Communications Association (FCCA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
Why is coordination necessary?
In addition to limited radio spectrum space, which is considered a natural resource and probably will not be increased, the fact that there are approximately 20,000 radio license applications each year in the fire service alone clearly shows why frequencies have to be coordinated and shared.
In addition to fire, there are approximately 38,000 police licenses, 28,000 local government, 18,000 highway maintenance, and over 7000 forestry licenses issued each year. These figures indicate the difficulty faced in attempting to find a usable, comparatively interference-free radio channel, and are the reason why fire departments sometimes cannot obtain exactly what they want in radio frequencies and why frequencies are sometimes turned down. Furthermore, the numerous licenses point out why the FCC recommends a state frequency allocation plan
Who does coordination?
Frequency coordinators normally serve on a volunteer basis. Most are members or retired members of fire departments, others are members of a centralized communications department of their cities, and some are engineers or technicians. Nearly all hold either FCC commercial and/or amateur licenses, and all are well versed in mobile radio technology.
FREQUENCY COORDINATION…
A radio frequency coordinator exists on his record. He must:
- Maintain a copy of a state radio plan, if it exists.
- Maintain records of all users in a state by frequency, with actual location noted by grid coordinates in latitude and longitude, plus the actual station elevation The FCC assists in this area by providing copies of licenses as they are issued.
- Maintain records of users in adjacent states by frequency and actual location.
- Maintain knowledge of all other service coordinators with whom he must work
- Have a working knowledge of FCC rules and regulations as they apply to his service.
- Maintain a supply of coordination forms.
- Be available for advice and consultation to applicants when requested.
- Check all application forms for completeness and accuracy.
- Return incomplete or inaccurate application forms, stating the reasons why they are returned
- Compare the form when it is completed with a state plan, if it exists.
- Check application grid coordinates for accuracy.
- Check application for co-channel interference, if the location is near a state line.
Check application for possible adjacent channel interference, which usually occurs when locations are within 10 miles of each other.
The distance between transmitting antenna locations is critical to prevent severe radio interference. Most coordinators measure this distance by using the Pythagorean theorem of triangulation, confirming the fact that frequency coordination is indeed an engineering service.
Controversies in coordination
There are varying opinions as to who should do frequency coordination and whether or not it must be done at a local level. While some believe that frequency coordination must be done on a local basis to be successful, others argue that frequency coordination could be done on a national level or by three or four coordinators at strategic geographic points throughout the United States. However, if frequency coordination is not done at a local level, then the representative organization must have either representation at the local level or someone with whom local officials can deal. While frequency coordination is an engineering service, it is not an absolute science and the rules of application are not absolute in every case. The recognized distances between antennas and transmitters may work well in one community but cause destructive interference in another.
In addition, the fire service as an entity must retain its identity in Washington, D C. The same can be said of police and other organizations; hence, the argument as to whether one organization could and should coordinate for all local government agencies, including police and fire.
Historically, there have been differences among organizations as to whether a fee should be charged for frequency coordination. This question ultimately will be settled by sheer necessity. With the cutbacks in government organizations and jurisdictions in the past few years, coordinators eventually will not be available on a volunteer basis. In addition, if a fee was charged, the fire service could establish and maintain a national data base, as well as employ full-time communications people who could best represent the interests of the fire service.
Since there is only so much spectrum space available, frequency coordination will become more complex in the future. As technology improves, however, better methods will be learned on how to utilize the space available. It should be the aim of all involved to continue attempts to improve the service and to some day have a fully centralized and computerized system to provide the most cost-efficient and time-effective system available in the interests of better service to the public we serve.
