By Stephen Smoot
The long discussion between local emergency management officials and federal administrators of the National Radio Quiet Zone reached a new stage as a significant study on the impact of NRQZ restrictions nears a close.
In a joint Pendleton and Pocahontas counties release, Rick Gillespie, Pendleton County Emergency services coordinator stated, “We are encouraged by the discussions and the shared commitment to reach a successful outcome in hopes of improving our emergency services radio systems in service to the public, throughout the NRQZ.”
“The ability to enhance emergency communications in our region is critical for the safety of our residents, visitors, and first responders,” stated Michael O’Brien, director of Pocahontas County 911. He went on to add that “we appreciate the ongoing collaboration with the NRQZ organizations and our neighboring counties.”
On March 14, representatives from the Pendleton and Pocahontas counties’ commissions engaged with federal representatives. These came to speak on behalf of the NRQZ, Green Bank Observatory, and the Sugar Grove Research Station. The federal side also invited those from CTA Consultants, engaged by the National Science Foundation “to conduct a comprehensive study of land-mobile radio emergency services communications” in the two counties.
CTA consultants administered more than “5,600 computer modeling simulations of existing and new potential radio system coverage patterns throughout both counties.” Preliminary results show that “terrain is the biggest challenge in both counties and that VHF frequencies can generally yield better coverage with fewer towers and a lower cost than UHF.”
VHF uses longer wavelengths and can more easily get around obstacles, such as terrain obstructions. UHF signals work best in areas with a clear line of sight between the transmitter tower and the device receiving the signals.
Using VHF also requires fewer towers and comes with less cost of use, but the West Virginia Statewide Interoperable Network that connects public safety entities with State and local governments uses UHF.
After conclusion of the study, CTA Consulting “will execute on-air tests and other evaluations to assess the performance of emergency services communications systems while ensuring minimal interference with NRQZ facilities.”
CTA Consulting’s studies focused on reaching an end goal of 95 percent geographic coverage in both Pendleton and Pocahontas counties, “which . . . is the current standard for emergency communications coverage.” Achieving this goal could mean the addition of more towers and innovative solutions that at the same time work towards ‘reducing energy radiated toward the two federal facilities and improving coverage.”
In its work, CTA Consulting recommended to the NRQZ that they adjust their own computer modeling system “used to determine power output limits, incorporating more accurate details that may reduce the received power of signals at the federal facilities, like enhanced models for tree coverage.”
Both federal and local government representatives discussed the potential for Starlink and other satellite internet firms to serve in some ways as a catalyst to improve communications. Satellite coverage currently reaches 97 percent of the region “with four exclusion cells (three around GBO and one around SGRS).”
Starlink, in partnership with the NRQZ, will provide two units to each county to test emergency service communications capabilities. The main goal is to allow emergency services to be able to transmit and receive life-saving communications in real time, sending medical data from EKGs, for example.
Testing could affect mobile phone service temporarily in the area.
Current studies and the subsequent testing on the ground could further reduce the size of the established exclusion areas.
Gillespie reported to the Pendleton County Commission on the new developments, stating that the “long-range plan is to provide relief for the National Radio Quiet Zone.” He praised the NRQZ for now showing a “willingness to look at modifying their software models.”
