2027 Agenda
It Started With a Tower: One Incident. Multiple Systems. One Communications Mission.
When a permanent public safety communications site was lost to flooding in Delaware County, Indiana, responders had to build an operational communications lifeline. Although a temporary tower was put in place within 96 hours, it wasn't tall enough to provide the coverage and range needed.
What began with one set of devices, evolved into a multi-agency architecture involving broadband and LMR added to capable devices, borrowing devices from Indiana State Police cache, use of nationwide interoperability channels and repeaters and a mobile tower to keep Ball State University operational during home football games.
This session walks through the operational timeline, technical and logistical decision points, agency coordination, equipment accountability and transition toward sustainable interim communications.
Takeaway
Start with the mission, not the technology.
Build multiple communications paths before the primary system fails.
Treat LMR, broadband, deployables, and interoperability channels as complementary tools.
Get field users involved early—and listen to what they experience.
Expect the communications problem to expand beyond the original footprint.
Track every asset and every handoff.
Plan the transition out while you are still in the response.
A successful communications response is an operational process, not a box of radios.