Va. gov. awards $7.3M to improve safety communication

The Virginia State Police will use the funds to transition all existing radios and communications systems on the current system to the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network

Augusta Free Press

RICHMOND, Va. — Governor McAuliffe announced Wednesday that the Virginia State Police will receive more than $7.3 million in grant funding to transition all existing radios and communications systems on the Commonwealth’s Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS) to the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) awarded the funding as part of its Band 14 Incumbent Spectrum Relocation Grant Program (Band 14 Program). Virginia is one of only eight states and local public safety agencies in the nation to be selected for funding.

The Band 14 Program awarded the state police $7,304,459 in order to provide the necessary financial assistance to support the relocation of all existing STARS radios and systems from Band 14 in advance of the deployment and operation of the NPSBN. The Virginia State Police was selected as a recipient of the grant due to the Department’s technically feasible and viable, solution-based proposal submitted to FirstNet in March 2016. All grant applications for the Band 14 Program Federal Funding Opportunity underwent a competitive review process.

“Virginia has one of the best statewide emergency management systems, and this is a well-deserved grant for the Virginia State Police, public safety agencies and all our first responders,” Governor McAuliffe said.