The implementation of the Fort Worth Public Safety Radio System included the development of a comprehensive interoperable communications plan for first responders from multiple agencies.
Participation in the plan is open not only to agencies that use the Fort Worth Regional Radio System as their primary communications system, but also to other mutual aid partners, such as Collin County, who own and maintain their own radio systems for their daily operations, but require the ability to communicate with other agencies in mutual aid situations or other multi-agency operations.
The plan provides a common group of communications channels that first responders in Tarrant, Johnson, Dallas, Denton, Parker, Ellis and Palo Pinto counties may access when multiple agencies respond to a single incident. These channels are used only for communications with other agencies during joint operations. They are not used for an agency's day-to-day operations. These channels are accessible to the users of any radio system connected to the Fort Worth Regional Radio System. More than 120 agencies are able to communicate with one another via these common channels.
Collin County has approved a Communications System Agreement with the City of Fort Worth to operate on the interoperable communications channels when required for mutual aid operations only.
Collin County will not utilize the Fort Worth Regional Radio System for daily operations, but only when required to communicate with public safety agencies in Fort Worth or other agencies using the Fort Worth Regional Radio System during joint operations. This contract will be with a governmental entity, state agency or public institution of higher education: (Collin County). |