To

Mayor and Council

Subject

Move 800 MHz Prime Transmission Site

Initiator

Department of Engineering

Recommendation

Approval is requested to purchase necessary radio communication \n \n equipment/components from Motorola Communications and Electronics, Inc., for \n \n the purpose of moving the City's Prime Transmission Site from the WXTX-TV Tower \n \n to property being purchased by the City and to install three radio channels to \n \n a digital platform in the negotiated amount of $1,631,000.

Approval

Approved

Background

The City purchased the 800 MHz Radio Communication System from Motorola in

March 1992 through a competitive RFP Process (RFP#149-91) after which the Radio

System went into operation in July 1993. The original installation included

leasing tower space on the WXTX-TV Tower for which we pay $4,100.00 per month

or $49,200.00 each year. We can no longer justify leasing tower space knowing

every five years the rent goes up by 5%. We also have a FCC requirement to

install channels to our System that have been licensed under a Slow Growth

Plan.

Analysis

Hence, a project was developed and funded to purchase land build, a radio tower

and move the Prime Transmission Site. There are several components to the

City's analog Radio System that have been discontinued and that we have been

notified of obsolesce dates. This follows the radio industry standards that

are moving away from the analog technology to digital technology. This move

and upgrade addresses some of these issues in a planned manner to provide

another ten years of service from our 800 MHz Radio System. The installation

of three digital channels to our Radio System will allow us to operate radios

in the analog or digital format on these new channels. This project

accomplishes the following:



* Moves the Prime Transmission Site saving the City $49,200 per year.

* A City owned tower provides an opportunity for a revenue stream to the City

for cell companies renting space from the City.

* Begins System migration to digital platform by creating three digital

channels.

* Provides a Smart Zone Switch (part of the digital upgrade) to the System

allowing us to install remote tower sites to the System at much lower cost. We

currently have long range plans to install a complete simulcast transmission

site for the east panhandle at a cost of $1,750,000. This upgrade will allow us

to install Intelli-repeater site instead at a cost of about $350,000, saving

the City $1,400,000 to solve the problem of Public Safety portable radios not

communicating in areas east of Midland Rd.

* Meets FCC requirement of adding channels to the System that are already

licensed to the City.

* Provides a method of extending the life of our 800 MHz Radio System another

ten years.

Financial Considerations

Funding is available through Bond and CIP projects funds.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

Legal Considerations

This procurement requires Council approval.

Recommendations/ Actions

Approve the procurement of radio equipment and services from Motorola

Communications and Electronics, Inc., in the amount of $1,631,000.

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