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The PSERN Project is moving full speed ahead. The Project is celebrating some major accomplishments while also experiencing a schedule setback.
The Project has overcome countless hurdles related to leasing and has made great strides in launching construction. Big milestones include:
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Reaching the 100% mark for radio site leases needed in the urban areas – serving nearly all radio end users – and 90% of legal agreements for all of the system radio sites. Finalizing of these agreements means that construction can be completed.
- The site development team has constructed or is currently constructing 78% of PSERN’s radio tower sites.
- The Project performed some initial testing of the system and the preliminary results are better than promised. The results are currently under review by PSERN’s vendor, Motorola Inc., and then the Project team. This effort will inform the broader system coverage testing set to begin later this year.
- A big PSERN thank you to all designated agencies that have submitted signed Service Level Agreements! Only 20% remain and we appreciate the updates provided for your submittal dates. This agreement allows end users agencies to receive new radios and to connect with the new PSERN system.
The PSERN Project is a massive program comprised of over 85 sub-projects, over 100 end user agencies, nearly 18,000 radios, and the launching of a new operator agency. As you can imagine with a Project of this magnitude, there are many moving parts and complexities.
As previously mentioned, the schedule has experienced approximately five months of delays related to third party fiber connections and additional training requirements for system technicians, among other factors. The new dates are listed in the Project Schedule section.
The next major steps in the Project include:
- Full execution of the PSERN Operator Interlocal Agreement with all 12 partner entities,
- Finish radio site development,
- Begin system optimization and testing, and
- Prepare for final end user radio inventory and deployment.
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The Project’s vendor for radios, Motorola Inc., offers grant funding assistance for many of their products, including radios. Although a 1-for-1 radio is required for agencies to receive new radios, some agencies may need radios to bridge the gap between now and radio deployment – currently scheduled to start in the fall of 2021.
A potential option for end users is Motorola’s grant assistance program that can help aid in the purchase of additional radios. Applications are due soon so make sure you check out Motorola’s website for more information.
Meanwhile, the Project continues to seek alternatives for agencies using old radios.
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Please register your BDA/DAS today, and follow the registration and verification process listed below:
- Contact your Fire Marshal or Building Official to validate local code requirements for BDA/DAS.
- If using a broadband or Class “B” BDA/DAS, you must also register it with the Federal Communications Commission
- Contact your system manager to register your BDA - See the project's website for more information.
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Please note, 2020 is a pivotal year for the Project which means that shifts in the schedule may occur throughout the year. Key Project dates are currently as follows:
- Core & Dispatch Center Transition to be completed by May 2020
- Radio Frequency Coverage Testing (system-wide) to be completed by June 2021
- End-User Radio Training for Master Trainers to be completed by June 2021
- Radio End User Pilot Testing to be completed by September 2021
- Radio Deployment & Transition to be completed by July 2022
- Full System Acceptance January 2023
*Dates subject to change
If you would like to request more information about PSERN, or would like an in-person presentation for your organization, please contact us using the information below.
Please include your name, title, organization and your preferred contact method. A member of our team will return your inquiry within one business day.
- For general information about the PSERN Project, please visit our website, psern.org.
- For questions about the project or its staff, please call 206-47-PSERN / 206-477-7376, or email PSERN-INFO@kingcounty.gov.
- For questions about how your distributed antenna systems (DAS) and/or Bi-Directional amplifiers (BDAs) will be affected by PSERN, please email DAS-PSERN@kingcounty.gov.
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