LOOKING TO THE FUTURE IN COMMUNICATIONS

In today's expanding world of wireless devices, plans for disaster recovery should include many forms of radio communications. A decade ago, the disaster planner would have had only two-way radio, paging, and maybe the IMTS mobile telephone network to work with. It's a new day!

While two-way radio and paging still comprise the backbone of emergency communications, sophisticated wireless data devices are being introduced into the market almost daily. Presently, one can send e-mail and faxes from portable palmtop communicators, without wires, to virtually any place in the world. Modems that use radio frequencies instead of wires connect portable data devices to reliable radio networks serving major metropolitan and many rural areas. New, high tech, two-way pagers are even capable of transmitting an acknowledgment that the page was received.

Cellular telephone and the upcoming PCS (Personal Communications Service) operators will continue to offer both basic and enhanced services and such systems are usually engineered with redundancy to accommodate natural or man-made disasters. While cellular equipment is abundant and essential to a comprehensive disaster recovery plan, the time consumed by dialing and ringing makes cellular a slower choice for on-site communications than two-way radio. Furthermore, the "one-to-one" cellular telephone format is often less efficient than the "one-to-many" concept that two-way radio users are familiar with.

PORTABLE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

The newest arrival on the communications scene is the portable satellite telephone. Fax, data and secure digitized voice is transmitted directly to a communications satellite, orbiting some 22,000 miles above the earth. The transmission is downlinked to earth stations and then handed off to the Public Switched Telephone Network. In addition to fax, data and telephone, some units will even support two-way dispatch with talkgroups up to 10,000 units. Basically, if you can see the sky, you can communicate via these briefcase satellite phones. This service is available today. And, while the cost of the subscriber equipment is considerably more than that of cellular phones, the fact that it does not rely on terrestrial infrastructure makes it an ideal choice for disaster communications.

CONSIDER RENTING 2-WAY RADIOS

Portable two-way radio is the most prevalent technology at incident sites. In making disaster preparations, consider renting portable two-way radios as an alternative to purchasing. Renting eliminates capital outlay for disaster radios that may only sit on the shelf. Renting also helps ensure access to the latest technology when the need does arise. The disaster planner should select a source of portable two-way radio rentals early in the planning process and establish his or her operational requirements with that vendor.

It is important to make certain that the vendor can program rental radios to meet the requirements and ship them out, fully charged, on short notice. Radios that arrive at a disaster site and cannot be immediately pressed into service due to dead batteries can be a source of much frustration. It is also important to get written reciprocal agreements to share the frequencies of other emergency agencies with whom the communications will need to be coordinated. Now is the time to agree upon the frequencies to be used between you and other agencies. Verify with your radio vendor that the two-way radios you rent or buy will be compatible with the frequencies of the other agencies. Ask the vendor to keep those frequencies on file. Work with the vendor to establish billing, shipping, and contact information. Later…when time is of the essence, one quick fax or phone call to that vendor activates an already agreed upon plan.

Reliable and versatile communications will always be the mainstay of rescue and recovery operations. A well-rounded disaster plan includes keeping abreast of the ever-changing wireless technology and planning well in advance.