The Authority’s Revenue Bonds funded the Emergency Communications System, which is comprised of certain real property, improvements and equipment constituting a public safety, emergency, and public services wireless radio communications system (the “System”), Is aP25 Phase 2 Trunking System using frequencies in the 7/800 MHz band, that replaced the previous 480 MHz UHF-T band previously used by the Members. The System was designed to provide the Members with effective and reliable radiocommunications for routine intra-agency operations and inter-agency communications during mutual aid and disaster operations within the 606 square miles of the County. Similar projects have been constructed and are operating in the states of Florida and Michigan, the counties of Alameda and Los Angeles in California and King County in Washington, and the cities of Sarasota, Florida; Portland, Oregon; Cleveland, Ohio and San Diego.

 The System utilizes 23 frequency pairs in the 7/800 MHz band designated by the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) for public safety and public service use by the Members. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 47, Chapter 1, et seq. governs the use of radio spectrum by public agencies.

 The System is comprised of a “back bone” of fourteen base station radio and receiver sites, three microwave-only sites, and associated equipment; one master site; microwave equipment to link the base station repeaters and receivers; communications center console hardware and software; mobile and handheld user radio equipment; radio sites and other leased and owned facilities that support the backbone and associated computer hardware and software that is installed at these facilities and in public-safety and public-service vehicles. The System encompasses two separate simulcast zones. The eastern simulcast zone consists of eight transmit/receive sites, each with 13 trunked radio channels, and provides radio coverage for the dense urban area along the corridor formed by U.S. Highway 101. The western simulcast zone consists of six sites, each with ten trunked radio channels, and provides radio coverage for the rural parts of the County along U.S. Highway 1.  All sites are linked by digital microwave and leased digital services. The System is designed to provide seamless radio coverage for users throughout substantially the entire County.

Updated 1/2026