When Walker County emergency workers respond to a crash that straddles the state line, communication with out-of-state police is a hassle.
Officials must call the Walker 911 dispatcher, who radios the Hamilton County dispatcher, who passes information down the line, said David Ashburn, Walker County's Emergency Management Agency director.
In the coming weeks, the communication snarl could change as the county switches to the 800-megahertz radio network that is part of a regional project to allow emergency workers to use the same radio network, Mr. Ashburn said.
A 12-county network that stretches across Southeast Tennessee to Knoxville was tested last week and each county is now responsible for switching to the system in their area, said Troy Spence, chairman of the Tennessee Valley Regional Communications Committee.
Six Southeast Tennessee counties and three North Georgia counties are linked into the Tennessee Valley emergency radio system, which is housed in Chattanooga.
"Some other bigger counties have been using a system like this," said Mr. Spence, who runs the Bradley County Emergency Management Agency. "But for us, this is our future."
Since 1995, Chattanooga has been on the system and Catoosa County joined in 2006, said Arnold Hooper, manager of electronic communications for Chattanooga.
Most county officials involved in the project said they should begin using the system by the summer or early fall, but Mr. Hooper said more counties are interested in joining the system.
"The advisory committee is looking at expanding it further," he said. "(We) even have some interest from counties in Alabama."
Counties already involved in the project have different levels of interest in using the radio system, Mr. Hooper said. Some counties plan to only put the radios in emergency vehicles, while others are integrating it with their entire system.
Many of the smaller counties have functioned with older systems that have spotty coverage and conflict with other systems throughout the region, Mr. Spence said.
Counties in the area on the systemIn Southeast TennesseeBradleyHamiltonMcMinnMeigsRheaRoaneIn North GeorgiaCatoosaDadeWalker
On the current system in Rhea County, officers have a difficult time talking on the radio on opposite ends of the county, said the sheriff's office Chief Deputy John Argo.
Once the new radio system is running, emergency workers can switch to a line that connects fire, EMA and police services along with any other county also in the system, Chief Argo said.
While most small counties wouldn't be able to afford the system, a federal grant is paying 80 percent of the $22.5 million cost, said Mr. Hooper said.
In Tennessee, the state contributed $2.7 million, while in Georgia, Dade, Catoosa and Walker counties paid $1.4 million in local taxes, he said.
The Georgia counties purchased their own mobile and portable radios, while a grant paid for the radios in the 911 centers and the system's towers, Mr. Ashburn said.
The goal is to have better radio clarity across the counties and state line, he said.
"With so many counties trying to come onboard at the same time, we're waiting to get everything installed in the cars and finalized at the 911 center," he said. "I'm hoping to be live by the middle of June."
Continue reading by following these links to related stories:
Article: Tennessee Valley emergency radio system half complete
Article: Radio system advances in Rhea
Article: Grant will help Georgia counties communicate in emergency