SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Bay Area Regional Interoperable Communications Systems (BayRICS) Authority today voted to approve a $95 million agreement with Motorola Solutions, Inc. to build the Bay Area Enhanced Wireless Broadband (BayWEB) system. BayWEB will be the first truly regional public safety communications network that promises to provide interoperable flexibility for public safety communications throughout the Bay Area.
The “Build, Own, Operate and Maintain” (BOOM) agreement authorizes Motorola to build and operate a next-generation, wireless broadband network exclusively for use by public safety personnel. Using existing radio sites, infrastructure and 700MHz public safety radio spectrum, BayWEB will provide a state-of-the-art, LTE (Long-Term Evolution) broadband network for law enforcement, firefighters and emergency responders.
“BayWEB will enhance existing public safety voice radio services by adding high-speed data capability, allowing our first responders in the field to send and receive maps, floor plans, photos, video and access to a wide range of public safety databases and applications,” explained BayRICS Chair and Alameda County Undersheriff Rich Lucia.
BayWEB is fully funded through a $50.6 million federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) grant and up to $44 million in Motorola matching funds. Motorola will operate the system for a 10-year period, and then transfer the system to the BayRICS Authority at no cost. BayWEB is anticipated to begin operation in 2013.
The BayRICS Authority was created in August 2011, and marks the first time the Bay Area region has joined together to govern the highly complex issue of interoperable communications. The Authority consists of a Board of Directors from 13 jurisdictions: Alameda County, Marin County, Contra Costa County, City of Oakland, San Francisco County, San Francisco City, City of San Jose, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Sonoma County, South Bay Hub, East Bay Hub and the State of California. The South Bay and East Bay hubs are a conglomeration of smaller cities and unincorporated areas.
The BayRICS Authority also selected Barry Fraser to serve as the Authority’s interim General Manager/Project Manager. Fraser currently serves as Interoperability Project Manager for the City and County of San Francisco, and has worked on information technology and public safety projects for San Francisco since 2007.
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Tags: Press Releases by Tim Sbranti
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