BLUE EARTH - Faribault County commissioners are going forward with plans to buy 800 MHz radios.

The 800 MHz radios will utilize the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER), which is the backbone of towers being built throughout Minnesota.

The project will cost all agencies involved - including fire departments, ambulance services, law enforcement, schools, public works departments and the hospital - for a total of $2.96 million.

Fire and EMS will see the highest cost at $1.27 million. County infrastructure accounts for $767,000 and county radios - including the sheriff's office and the highway department - run $228,000.

All 33 agencies are required by federal law to upgrade from an analog radio system to either digital narrowband or 700/800 MHz by 2013.

Federal Engineering, a consulting company, presented its report to the board recently. Consultants Dennis Hausman and Steve Borchardt discussed the county's options.

One consideration of switching to narrow band is that the county would be required to spend even more money to upgrade its system a few years after 2013. The Federal Communications Commission has issued at least four memorandums saying that those who go with 700/800 MHz will be exempt from that upgrade. So, while 800 MHz radios are more expensive right now, they ultimately will cost less in the long run.

Borchardt explained the history of the radio switch, noting that when the Legislature committed to the project, it didn't provide funding for the whole process. Now that the 911 fee all phone users pay per month increased by 30 cents, there will be more grants and revenue bonds available to counties.

The duo presented three options to the board:

o Analog narrowband - Some existing equipment can be used, costing $1.2 million for capital expenses and maintenance for the first year. This option doesn't address key requirements, including coverage and audio quality.

o Digital narrowband - Provides improved coverage, addresses some key requirements of emergency responders, supports advanced features and is backward compatible with analog. Costs $2.55 million for capital costs and maintenance in the first year. Weaknesses: Costs more than the other options and creates interoperability issues.

o ARMER/800 MHz - Could cost less than digital narrowband because of grants. Solution for future mandatory upgrade. Addresses coverage, capacity and interoperability requirements, supports advanced features and has simplified migration. Weaknesses include the fact it is more expensive upfront, requires console replacement and has interoperability issues with non-ARMER users.

Currently, law enforcement has 99 percent coverage in the county with mobile radios and 43 percent coverage with portables. Mobile radios are those attached to vehicles, while portables are hand-held. Fire departments have it substantially worse with 68 percent coverage with mobiles and 6 percent with portables.

With option 3, law enforcement would have 97 percent coverage with mobiles, 75 percent with portables; fire 97 percent with mobiles and 75 percent with portables. This is far better than with any other option.

"Doing nothing is not an option for you," Hausman said. "Our suggestion, select an alternative and move forward as quickly as you can. Market factors are in your favor. There are lots of companies out there that are able and willing to work with you. You're getting pretty close to the best prices you can."

Commissioner Tom Warmka asked if schools really need 800 MHz, or if they could just get digital and patch up. Borchardt said other counties have had studies done, showing it would cost as much or more to keep patches going than to just upgrade uniformly.

Winnebago Police Chief Bob Toland is on the regional radio board. He said when they first looked at the engineering report, several entities were left off - such as schools, public works departments and others.

"We're going to need to be able to communicate with them on an emergency basis," he said. "... I think this gives us a lot better look at what the costs are."

Commissioner Bill Groskreutz asked if the county needs to replace all the equipment each entity is using now.

"Most counties are using this as an opportunity to re-evaluate," Borchardt said. "Most are concluding you can do something a little bit different."

Deputy Terry Campbell, emergency services director, said the process is already under way with every department.

He believes the cost estimates are at their highest for the radio system, adding that once each department has looked at its equipment, the figures should go down.

Commissioners asked how city agencies felt about the 800 MHz option. Campbell said they realize something needs to be done and are supportive of it.

The county board unanimously approved the engineering report and committed to the ARMER 800 MHz radios.

Campbell said they can back out until about March 30, when a participation plan needs to be completed for the state.