ISP STARCOM21

ISP StarCom 21

STARCOM21.com --- StarCom21 YahooGroup

Motorola StarCom21 Webpage

Spectrum efficiency
Radio frequency spectrum is a valuable but limited resource. STARCOM21's frequency plan is designed to take optimum advantage of the 700 and 800 MHz frequencies available to public safety agencies.

Several factors made simulcast the obvious system solution possible in the areas of Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane, McHenry and Lake counties. We will also have simulcast in Rockford and Peoria.

The number of sites required for coverage
The number of potential radio users
The inability to reuse frequencies because of geographic conflicts.

Motorola Simulcast technology for voice communications is the most efficient use of frequency spectrum today. Motorola's patented Simulcast technology controls the critical parameters that affect audio quality in overlap areas. These improved specifications result in excellent audio quality in all coverage areas served by the simulcast systems; fewer missed messages and increased officer safety.

Another essential quality of the Motorola ASTRO 25 solution is the ability to incorporate the 746 MHz spectrum into the design. When the 746 MHz spectrum is released for licensing to public safety organizations, STARCOM21 users will have the opportunity to immediately take advantage of the additional spectrum. The ASTRO 25 architecture will accommodate the new spectrum and allow for continued growth of the network. As state and local government users see the benefit of an integrated statewide network that provides true interoperability - and request to subscribe to this service - Motorola stands ready to expand STARCOM21 to meet the growing demand.
Coverage
Mobile coverage will be provided throughout all areas and direct portable access has been designed for designated areas (See map) Counties include: Cook, Will, DuPage Kane, McHenry and Lake counties. Cities include Rockford, Moline, East Moline, City of Kankakee, City of Peoria, Bloomington/Normal, City of Champaign, Decatur, Springfield, Carbondale, and East St. Louis. Portable access throughout the rest of the state can be achieved with the use of the 800 MHz in-band vehicular repeater. This method of system access is similar to cross band operations used by State Police today. Only now the same portable that is used to access the trunking system can also be used to access the Vehicular Repeater.

llinois Agencies using Motorola Systems Illinois agencies using Motorola systems.
If your agency joins STARCOM21, the system's interoperability means that you will be able to interface directly with the more than 60 trunked systems in Illinois. Among them:

State of Illinois users:

Pontiac Correctional Center
Stateville Correctional Center
Tamms Correctional Center
Dixon Correctional Center
Menard Correctional Center
Lincoln Correctional Center
Logan Correctional Center
Dwight Correctional Center
Thompson Correctional Center
Lawrence Correctional Center
Kewanee Correctional Center

Local government:

City of Chicago, Police Department
Village of Schaumburg
City of Springfield
City of Aurora
City of Naperville
City of Kankakee
City of Decatur
City of Elgin
City of Joliet
Village of Hoffman Estates
Village of Streamwood
City of Champaign
Northwestern University Police Department
Northwest Central Dispatch
Cook County Sheriff, Department of Corrections
Effingham County
Grundy County Utilities

12/00 - Just announced that a "StarCom 21 Wireless" system will be purchased for the Illinois State Police for communications with a grant from Illinois FIRST. More news to come soon hopefully.   Click here for more details.

      The Illinois State Police (ISP) is one of many public safety agencies faced with replacing an aging communications system that is nearing obsolete. To address this issue, the ISP has replaced its existing LMR system with a leased system. Rather than procuring, owning, and operating a new system, the ISP has leased a vendor-owned, operated, and maintained system.

      Background. The ISP began developing a plan for replacement of its LMR system in 1994. An independent consultant performed a study to determine the cost of procuring a new LMR system covering a six-county area. The results of the study were presented to the governor?s office for budget approval, but the project was considered cost prohibitive. The ISP then considered partnering with the local utility company, which had extensive infrastructure throughout the state but did not have adequate spectrum to support the number of proposed users. This arrangement would have required the ISP to allow non-government entities to use its frequencies. The ISP did not feel this arrangement best served its interests and rejected this solution.

      Ultimately, ISP officials considered a commercial option. They recognized that commercial entities already provided most of their communications capabilities, such as paging and wireless data. As a result, a commercial LMR system was viewed as a service they could possibly pursue.

      The ISP released a performance-based RFP through the Illinois Central Management Service. This RFP stipulated that a vendor would build, operate, and maintain a voice communications system for use by the ISP, the Chicago Police Department, and any other government organization within the State of Illinois.

      The State of Illinois possesses a number of valuable resources that make a lease arrangement favorable for the vendor and the state. First, the ISP has been granted $25 million through the Illinois Fund for Infrastructure, Roads, Schools, and Transit (FIRST) project to fund the initial capital cost of the user equipment. Illinois FIRST funds are issued through the governor?s office and are intended to revitalize critical infrastructure within the State of Illinois. This significant amount of start-up money considerably mitigates the ISP?s funding challenges.

      Another resource that the ISP offers to the vendor is real estate. The State of Illinois owns a considerable number of radio towers and sites throughout the state, which the vendor in turn can use for site development or infrastructure installation.

      Finally, frequencies already licensed to the ISP will be reused whenever possible. The ISP realizes a significant monetary value is associated with this resource and expects the vendor to note the value in its discounted pricing for the ISP.

      System Details. The ISP has leased a trunked, 800 MHz LMR voice system capable of providing interoperable communications with other public safety providers. This system provides 95 percent statewide coverage. The contract states that the system must accommodate expanded users and provide flexibility for growth and special needs. The system is security encrypted.

      Motorola?s solution, the Starcom 21 system (built and maintained by Motorola), is accessible to all levels of public safety agencies (i.e., local, state, federal) throughout the State of Illinois. The ISP lease is 10 years for voice traffic only. Although Motorola owns and maintains the system, the ISP will be the primary administrator of the system (e.g., adding users and assigning talk groups).

      Contract Provisions. The ISP developed the contract using PSWN Program research and best practices guidelines designed for local, state, and federal public safety providers. As stated, it is a voice-only system. The contract requires Motorola to provide an operational statewide system within 36 months. The contract guarantees 95 percent or greater coverage for the grade of service (10 years). All provisions are guaranteed for the life on the contract.

      Interoperability. The Starcom 21 system is a virtual shared radio system that facilitates interoperable communications. Although owned by a vendor, the system is available to all government organizations in the State of Illinois. The arrangement enables participating organizations to contribute resources (e.g., frequencies and towers) where feasible. Resource sharing promotes cost savings and interoperable communications, and prevents organizations from establishing isolated, redundant networks.

      The ISP does not perceive loss of control as an issue. Although the vendor owns, operates, and maintains the system, the ISP will serve as the administrator. The ISP set the performance criteria for the system and conducted its own tests of the system. System reliability is determined entirely by the ISP. The ISP has also indicated that although the vendor will build and own the system, any upgrades to the infrastructure will belong to the ISP when the lease expires, at no cost.

      Summary. The Starcom 21 system is embraced by public safety agencies throughout the state. All agencies within the state, including federal agencies, will be able to join the lease agreement. The new system will alleviate funding challenges faced by many smaller agencies and municipalities that do not have the resources to establish their own systems. More importantly, agencies will now be able to communicate on a single system, improving interoperability and coordination during emergency incident responses.

Illinois Homeland Security
Expanded telecommunications systems for both state and local public safety agencies: The STARCOM 21 network will be a statewide Digital Voice Radio Network. The system will be available to Federal, State, County and Local Public Safety users for a small fee. Police, fire and EMS will be able to talk directly through this system. Any federal, state, county or local user can use the system simply by buying radios comparable with the 800 MHz network and signing up with Motorola. This new idea represents a true partnership between federal, state, county and local governments along with private industry to create the largest leased radio system in Illinois. The Network will initially be provided to the Illinois State Police ($25 million from Illinois FIRST has already been committed to the start-up, infrastructure, and ISP use fees). Ultimately, all the state’s public safety agencies and even local public safety agencies will be able to utilize the I-STAR system.

Other information I have obtained on this subject:
IGNN: Budget Press Release             February 20, 2002        Governor's Budget Proposal Strengthens Commitment to Public Safety

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today proposed a Fiscal Year 2003 budget of $383 million for the Illinois State Police (ISP), including funds to train 100 new troopers and to decrease backlogs at state police forensic labs.

“This budget reflects my commitment for Illinois to realize the full potential of DNA technology as a law enforcement and crime solving tool,” Governor Ryan said. “With this budget, the state police will be positioned to erase a backlog which stood at nearly 3,000 cases just two years ago.” Highlights of the FY 2003 budget include funds to continue the initiative begun last year to hire 80 forensic scientists and evidence technicians, and $2.3 million for outsourcing DNA cases while new scientists are in training.

“We live in a different world now after the terrorist attacks,” Governor Ryan said. “Ensuring state police staffing is at optimum levels is an essential part of keeping our state safe.”

Ryan’s spending package also contains $109,500 for the second year of funding for the implementation of the statewide voice communications system, STARCOM21, and more than $24 million for capital costs. The new communications system will be operational by fall 2004, replacing the current system and equipment.

“Funding for troopers, forensics, and law enforcement communications demonstrates that public safety continues to be one of Governor Ryan’s highest priorities,” said ISP Director Sam W. Nolen.

---
      The ILL State Police signed a contract with Motorola on a state wide trunk system . It will be digital and will use the 800 mgz and 700 mgz, switching back and forth. Who was it a while back that said we really dont need the 700mhz band in the 780XLT. They will be using a new type of radio from Motorola. As reported on CARMA the contract will be signed next week and delivery of the new radios ten days later starting in southern ILL. It will take three years to complete. They are hoping to bring in alot more towns as they progress. We may need add on boards for digital and 700mhz sooon here in ILL.

Just came from a NPSPAC region 24 (immediately adjoining Ill) meeting yesterday. The southern Illinois frequency advisor/ NPSPAC chairman was there and the Motorola engineer responsible for implementation was there also. I can verify their radio system will be wireless, at least from the vehicle to the fixed-end equipment. I believe their RFP includes a 10,000 foot tower in a corn field smack in the geographic center of the state where power could be modulated and radiated. In this manner the equipment would be energized.
Illinois Starcom 21

       Dan,

       I read your pages in Monitoring Times January 2001 and decided to drop you a line. I got this information from a local newspaper just last
       week. Illinois Governor Ryan announced a $25 million grant for a new radio system phased in over the next 3 years. The state will lease
       time on the new Starcom 21 network from Motorola. It will be made available to other federal, state, and local public safety agencies if they
       want to update their own outmoded systems.

       Reading between the lines, I would say the state police are going to phase out their low band radio system statewide. Also I would assume
       the Illinois Department of Transportation 47 MHz system will follow also. The VHF 155 MHz state police frequency will have to stay in place
       for use with other police departments (ISPERN, IREACH etc.) As we already know the state police districts in the Chicago area are already
       using 800mhz.

       I don't know anything about Starcom21-is there a scanner yet that will work with this system? Or is this digital? Maybe a competitive brand
       two-way radio down the road properly programmed will be around. A the rate everyone is going, no one will be left on lowband. I've always
       said give 29.7 - 54 MHz to us hams (we like skip conditions) and trade part of the 440 MHz and also 1.2 GHz for commercial use (they
       don't like skip).

       Daryl

       Thanks for the information, Daryl. Funding for the Starcom 21 network comes out of the Venture TECH fund
       from the Illinois Technology Office. This fund promises to provide research and development dollars for a
       number of law enforcement initiatives, including expansion of the Illinois State Police Wireless Information
       Network, wireless access to photographic images and fingerprints, more rapid access to wants and
       warrants databases, and an automated voice dispatch system. The new Starcom 21 network is one of
       those initiatives.

       Motorola, headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, was selected to build Starcom 21after a
       competitive bid process. The Illinois State Police will purchase new radios and lease airtime on the network,
       as will other federal, state, and local public safety agencies. Rather than spending a lot of money to
       establish their own independent systems, county and local agencies will have the option of joining the
       state network.

       The plan is to phase in the network over three years, starting with coverage in the southern part of the
       state and moving northward. The state hopes that by having one common radio system, problems of
       interoperability -- the ability of agencies to communicate directly with each other -- will be a thing of the
       past.

       As Daryl noted, the Chicago District of the Illinois State Police is currently using a trunked radio system. It's
       actually two EDACS networks, one covering a northern patrol area and the other a southern patrol.
       Frequencies in LCN (Logical Channel Number) order are:

       North: 866.8875, 866.4625, 867.3875, 866.9625, 867.4625, 867.8875, 868.3875, 868.4625, 868.8875 and
       868.9625 MHz.

       South: 866.4125, 866.4375, 866.9375, 867.4125, 867.9375, 867.9125, 868.4375, 868.4125, 868.9375 and
       868.9125 MHz.

       Unfortunately, I don't have any technical details about the Starcom 21 system. I expect that it will be a
       trunked digital system, but I don't know if it will be compatible with other Motorola products or with the
       APCO 25 standards, or something all together new. If readers have any further information about the
       system, please send it along!

       NPSPAC

       Starcom 21 will almost certainly have the capability of operating on the National Public Safety Planning
       Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) 800 MHz frequencies. The NPSPAC was formed more than ten years ago to
       provide guidance in the use and coordination of public safety radio frequencies, and their recommendations
       included the establishment of common inter-agency frequencies.

       Five channels in the 800 MHz band are set aside for mutual aid across the country. One frequency,
       866.0125 MHz, is designated a calling channel. The other four, at 866.5125, 867.0125, 867.5125 and
       868.0125 MHz, are tactical channels. Each of these channels is 25 kHz wide and operates conventionally
       (that is, not trunked) with a tone coded squelch frequency of 156.7.

       So, as you're scanning the 800 MHz band, be sure to include these five non-trunked frequencies in one of
       your scan banks.

       That's all for this month. More information is available on my website at www.signalharbor.com, and I
       welcome your e-mail at dan@signalharbor.com. Until next month, happy monitoring!

Motorola fights to upgrade State Police radio system

October 31, 2000    BY HOWARD WOLINSKY BUSINESS REPORTER    CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Nearly 60 years ago, then-Chicago-based Motorola Inc. revolutionized law enforcement with two-way radios.

Today, Schaumburg-based Motorola, better known by the public for its cell phones and PG--which evolved from two-way radios--is fighting
for the contract to upgrade the Illinois State Police's more than 30-year-old radio system. The seven-year contract is expected to be worth about $60 million.

The only other bidder is Com-Net Ericsson Critical Radio Systems Inc., formerly a division of Ericsson, the Swedish wireless giant.

Judy Pardonnet, spokeswoman for the state Department of Central Management Services, which handles the bid, said the contract will be awarded in about a week.    Com-Net just aced Motorola in a hotly contested bid on a similar project in Florida. Motorola charged in a suit in Florida Circuit Court that the
state violated its own laws in awarding the contract.

"This is a very important contract for us. Illinois is Motorola's home state. We make the infrastructure equipment for the radio backbone in Schaumburg," said Pat Sturmon, spokeswoman for Motorola.   William Clancy, regional vice president of Com-Net in West Chicago, said the new systems will be digital. He said this will provide more security to police officers.   In addition, he said, the system will prevent problems caused by officers speaking over each other.

The Illinois State Police installed such a digital system in Cook County eight years ago to help its highway patrols in the Chicago area. Ericsson installed that system, Clancy said.   He said the new statewide system will be different because it is being bid as a service to the state that will be maintained by the companies. In the past, the infrastructure equipment was purchased outright by the states.

The winning bidder would aim to recoup the cost by bringing other law enforcement agencies onto its backbone service.

With the stakes high and local pride an issue for Motorola, the companies have launched intense lobbying efforts involving big-name politics.

Motorola has on its team Tyrone Fahner, former Illinois attorney general and former director of the Illinois State Police, and Richard Williamson, chairman of the Illinois GOP.

On its side, Com-Net has enlisted Robert Kjellander, Republican national committeeman; former Republican state Rep. Sam Vinson and former
Democratic state Rep. Alfred Ronan.   "Motorola has hired a lobbyist like any major company," Sturmon said. "We want to make sure our company's interests are well represented."

Update 5/03
I found this Starcom 21 info from this PDF file site:   www.mclean.gov/boardnotes/pdf/February2003/min_AdHoc12.pdf

The ISP Starcom 21 system will be an APCO-25, 700 and 800 mHz digital system, with over 186 tower sites throughout Illinois. Looks like the BC785D scanner may become of use to us, and probably the new Radio Shack digital scanner to be released soon (I don't know anything about it, though.) Motorola will also utilize some of the existing ClearTalk towers in Mclean county (possibly other towers, too?) for the system, having at least 95% mobile coverage statewide.
It will start out using existing ISP towers, then be put on the Starcom 21 towers later. The system should be operational by September, 2004. Public safety
agencies in Illinois, including ALL State agencies using two-way radios, as well as federal agencies, will utilize the system. This will certainly allow us
to delete hundreds of state frequencies from our scanners, except the few they probably would keep, like ISPERN and other mutual-aid channels. I assume
some high-band freqs may also be kept as backup channels, but I'm not sure. If we can monitor the system, which looks good, it'll be much easier to
listen to all Illinois state agencies, and all local and federal agencies that rent the system. Of course, all those who don't buy digital scanners will be left
in the dark...

ISP Star Com 21

Starcom 21 is expected to be fully constructed and operational statewide on September 28, 2004.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 22, 2000
ILLINOIS FIRST TO FUND NEW STATE POLICE RADIO SYSTEM
Governor fulfills pledge to start uniform public safety network

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced the Illinois FIRST Program will provide $25 million for a new statewide police radio communications system to improve public safety.

The Illinois FIRST grant to the Illinois State Police will purchase new radio equipment to use the new Starcom21 wireless state radio system. The state will lease time on the new network to be constructed by Motorola, the vendor selected after a competitive bid. Starcom 21 will replace the Illinois State Police Department's outdated and inefficient communications network and will allow other public safety agencies to communicate directly via state-of-the-art wireless technology.

"The current system is aging, fragmented and unreliable. With the help of Illinois FIRST, we're able to utilize cutting-edge technology to make sure that public safety agencies have the tools they need to get the job done and protect our citizens," Gov. Ryan said.

Competitive bidding, a multi-state agency review, and an independent third-party evaluation of the bids all recommended Schaumburg-based Motorola implement the Starcom21 system. Motorola has a long history of providing voice communications systems to government agencies and the private sector. Negotiations will now begin on final contract terms.

The new statewide radio system will be phased in over three years. It will be capable of accommodating other federal, state, county and local public safety agencies on the leased network. For the first time Illinois public safety agencies at all levels of government will have the opportunity to participate on a common radio system allowing them to communicate directly.

"Our vision for this new system would make it possible in emergencies for federal, state, county and local police and public safety agencies to communicate directly with each other, and that will save lives," Illinois State Police Director Sam Nolen said.

The new, leased radio system will offer an attractive option to counties and municipalities also faced with aging, outmoded police and public safety radio systems. Those agencies will now be able to participate without the cost of establishing their own radio networks.

Last year, in Gov. Ryan's State of the State address, he pledged to improve the Illinois State Police Department's outdated communication networks.

"The new radio system will help our police officers who are combating gangs, guns, and drugs and improving highway safety," Gov. Ryan said. "This system will help us serve our citizens more efficiently, and protect our public safety officers."

ISP StarCom 21
STARCOM21.com --- StarCom21 YahooGroup Motorola StarCom21 Webpage
Spectrum efficiency Radio frequency spectrum is a valuable but limited resource. STARCOM21's frequency plan is designed to take optimum advantage of the 700 and 800 MHz frequencies available to public safety agencies. Several factors made simulcast the obvious system solution possible in the areas of Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane, McHenry and Lake counties. We will also have simulcast in Rockford and Peoria. The number of sites required for coverage The number of potential radio users The inability to reuse frequencies because of geographic conflicts. Motorola Simulcast technology for voice communications is the most efficient use of frequency spectrum today. Motorola's patented Simulcast technology controls the critical parameters that affect audio quality in overlap areas. These improved specifications result in excellent audio quality in all coverage areas served by the simulcast systems; fewer missed messages and increased officer safety. Another essential quality of the Motorola ASTRO 25 solution is the ability to incorporate the 746 MHz spectrum into the design. When the 746 MHz spectrum is released for licensing to public safety organizations, STARCOM21 users will have the opportunity to immediately take advantage of the additional spectrum. The ASTRO 25 architecture will accommodate the new spectrum and allow for continued growth of the network. As state and local government users see the benefit of an integrated statewide network that provides true interoperability - and request to subscribe to this service - Motorola stands ready to expand STARCOM21 to meet the growing demand. Coverage Mobile coverage will be provided throughout all areas and direct portable access has been designed for designated areas (See map) Counties include: Cook, Will, DuPage Kane, McHenry and Lake counties. Cities include Rockford, Moline, East Moline, City of Kankakee, City of Peoria, Bloomington/Normal, City of Champaign, Decatur, Springfield, Carbondale, and East St. Louis. Portable access throughout the rest of the state can be achieved with the use of the 800 MHz in-band vehicular repeater. This method of system access is similar to cross band operations used by State Police today. Only now the same portable that is used to access the trunking system can also be used to access the Vehicular Repeater.
llinois Agencies using Motorola Systems Illinois agencies using Motorola systems. If your agency joins STARCOM21, the system's interoperability means that you will be able to interface directly with the more than 60 trunked systems in Illinois. Among them: State of Illinois users: Pontiac Correctional Center Stateville Correctional Center Tamms Correctional Center Dixon Correctional Center Menard Correctional Center Lincoln Correctional Center Logan Correctional Center Dwight Correctional Center Thompson Correctional Center Lawrence Correctional Center Kewanee Correctional Center Local government: City of Chicago, Police Department Village of Schaumburg City of Springfield City of Aurora City of Naperville City of Kankakee City of Decatur City of Elgin City of Joliet Village of Hoffman Estates Village of Streamwood City of Champaign Northwestern University Police Department Northwest Central Dispatch Cook County Sheriff, Department of Corrections Effingham County Grundy County Utilities

12/00 - Just announced that a "StarCom 21 Wireless" system will be purchased for the Illinois State Police for communications with a grant from Illinois FIRST. More news to come soon hopefully. Click here for more details.
The Illinois State Police (ISP) is one of many public safety agencies faced with replacing an aging communications system that is nearing obsolete. To address this issue, the ISP has replaced its existing LMR system with a leased system. Rather than procuring, owning, and operating a new system, the ISP has leased a vendor-owned, operated, and maintained system. Background. The ISP began developing a plan for replacement of its LMR system in 1994. An independent consultant performed a study to determine the cost of procuring a new LMR system covering a six-county area. The results of the study were presented to the governor?s office for budget approval, but the project was considered cost prohibitive. The ISP then considered partnering with the local utility company, which had extensive infrastructure throughout the state but did not have adequate spectrum to support the number of proposed users. This arrangement would have required the ISP to allow non-government entities to use its frequencies. The ISP did not feel this arrangement best served its interests and rejected this solution. Ultimately, ISP officials considered a commercial option. They recognized that commercial entities already provided most of their communications capabilities, such as paging and wireless data. As a result, a commercial LMR system was viewed as a service they could possibly pursue. The ISP released a performance-based RFP through the Illinois Central Management Service. This RFP stipulated that a vendor would build, operate, and maintain a voice communications system for use by the ISP, the Chicago Police Department, and any other government organization within the State of Illinois. The State of Illinois possesses a number of valuable resources that make a lease arrangement favorable for the vendor and the state. First, the ISP has been granted $25 million through the Illinois Fund for Infrastructure, Roads, Schools, and Transit (FIRST) project to fund the initial capital cost of the user equipment. Illinois FIRST funds are issued through the governor?s office and are intended to revitalize critical infrastructure within the State of Illinois. This significant amount of start-up money considerably mitigates the ISP?s funding challenges. Another resource that the ISP offers to the vendor is real estate. The State of Illinois owns a considerable number of radio towers and sites throughout the state, which the vendor in turn can use for site development or infrastructure installation. Finally, frequencies already licensed to the ISP will be reused whenever possible. The ISP realizes a significant monetary value is associated with this resource and expects the vendor to note the value in its discounted pricing for the ISP. System Details. The ISP has leased a trunked, 800 MHz LMR voice system capable of providing interoperable communications with other public safety providers. This system provides 95 percent statewide coverage. The contract states that the system must accommodate expanded users and provide flexibility for growth and special needs. The system is security encrypted. Motorola?s solution, the Starcom 21 system (built and maintained by Motorola), is accessible to all levels of public safety agencies (i.e., local, state, federal) throughout the State of Illinois. The ISP lease is 10 years for voice traffic only. Although Motorola owns and maintains the system, the ISP will be the primary administrator of the system (e.g., adding users and assigning talk groups). Contract Provisions. The ISP developed the contract using PSWN Program research and best practices guidelines designed for local, state, and federal public safety providers. As stated, it is a voice-only system. The contract requires Motorola to provide an operational statewide system within 36 months. The contract guarantees 95 percent or greater coverage for the grade of service (10 years). All provisions are guaranteed for the life on the contract. Interoperability. The Starcom 21 system is a virtual shared radio system that facilitates interoperable communications. Although owned by a vendor, the system is available to all government organizations in the State of Illinois. The arrangement enables participating organizations to contribute resources (e.g., frequencies and towers) where feasible. Resource sharing promotes cost savings and interoperable communications, and prevents organizations from establishing isolated, redundant networks. The ISP does not perceive loss of control as an issue. Although the vendor owns, operates, and maintains the system, the ISP will serve as the administrator. The ISP set the performance criteria for the system and conducted its own tests of the system. System reliability is determined entirely by the ISP. The ISP has also indicated that although the vendor will build and own the system, any upgrades to the infrastructure will belong to the ISP when the lease expires, at no cost. Summary. The Starcom 21 system is embraced by public safety agencies throughout the state. All agencies within the state, including federal agencies, will be able to join the lease agreement. The new system will alleviate funding challenges faced by many smaller agencies and municipalities that do not have the resources to establish their own systems. More importantly, agencies will now be able to communicate on a single system, improving interoperability and coordination during emergency incident responses.
Illinois Homeland Security Expanded telecommunications systems for both state and local public safety agencies: The STARCOM 21 network will be a statewide Digital Voice Radio Network. The system will be available to Federal, State, County and Local Public Safety users for a small fee. Police, fire and EMS will be able to talk directly through this system. Any federal, state, county or local user can use the system simply by buying radios comparable with the 800 MHz network and signing up with Motorola. This new idea represents a true partnership between federal, state, county and local governments along with private industry to create the largest leased radio system in Illinois. The Network will initially be provided to the Illinois State Police ($25 million from Illinois FIRST has already been committed to the start-up, infrastructure, and ISP use fees). Ultimately, all the state’s public safety agencies and even local public safety agencies will be able to utilize the I-STAR system.