From The K-B-L-G News Center...

ABOUT A DECADE AFTER MOVING TO AN EXPENSIVE 800-MEGAHERTZ RADIO SYSTEM FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS, THE CITY OF BILLINGS IS CONSIDERING GOING BACK TO A V-H-F SYSTEM. 

THE 800-MEGAHERTZ SYSTEM WORKS WELL, BUT IT'S INCOMPATIBLE WITH OTHER RADIO SYSTEMS IN THE STATE, AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR TINA VOLEK SAYS THAT THE CITY IS BEING PRESSURED TO CHANGE. 

THE STATE IS IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND A WAY IN WHICH JURISDICTIONS CAN COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, AND VOLEK SAYS THE CITY HAS JOINED A STUDY TO DETERMINE IF AN IMPROVED V-H-F SYSTEM IS VIABLE HERE. 

BILLINGS ADOPTED THE 800-MEGAHERTZ SYSTEM FOR SEVERAL REASONS.  AMONG THEM ARE COVERAGE ISSUES.  THE OLD V-H-F SIGNAL COULD NOT PENETRATE BUILDING WALLS, WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE INSIDE A BURNING STRUCTURE.  IT ALSO DID NOT COVER ALL OF BILLINGS, LEAVING "DEAD ZONES", WHERE POLICE OFFICERS COULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH DISPATCH, OR EACH OTHER. 

AND THE 800-MEGAHERTZ SYSTEM ALSO PROVIDES MULTIPLE CHANNELS FOR EACH DEPARTMENT, MEANING THAT FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS NO LONGER HAD TO WAIT FOR COMMUNICATIONS. 

THE STUDY IS DUE TO BE COMPLETED BY JUNE 12TH.