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2023 in AWIN -- What a Year!
As the year draws to a close, we are looking back over some of the events and accomplishments made in 2023 by AWIN, the AICEC, and public safety communications in Arkansas. Take a walk through our scrapbook with us.
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The AWIN Upgrade and More
AWIN Upgrade and other news includes:
- All AWIN sites have been upgraded to TDMA statewide. No deadline has been announced to remove P25 Phase 1/FDMA radios from the system. However, as they are replaced with Phase 2 radios, the TDMA system provides more than double the capacity for traffic on AWIN.
- Microwave replacement at the sites is in progress. Some aging sites are planned for remediation work prior to installation of new equipment.
- Washington County has completed their simulcast system buildout and rolled over to AWIN. They continue to work on their new dispatch consoles and radio programming.
- AWIN gives a SHOUT OUT to Northwest Arkansas for their leadership and cooperation in interoperable communications planning. Their region is a role model for interoperability!
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In this photo, Penny Rubow, AWIN Program Director and Arkansas SWIC, is presenting the AWIN Update at the AEMA Conference in Hot Springs in August, 2023. | |
The APSCG Success Story
AWIN and ADEM opened 2023 with the Arkansas Public Safety Communications Grant (APSCG) already in progress. Priorities for the $3 million, 75% State / 25% matching grant included replacement of existing FDMA radios on AWIN with TDMA radios, purchase of new TDMA radios and AWIN talkgroups, additional channels to provide increased AWIN capacity, and more.
The APSCG was introduced in late 2022. The application period closed on February 15, 2023, and award recipients were announced on February 28, 2023. At this time, all award money has been distributed. Most awarded projects have been completed, with the exception of a few with pending equipment delivery and programming.
Response to the APSCG was impressive. AWIN received approximately 115 applications totaling nearly $14 million in requests, highlighting the desires of many local governments for improved communications. No information is available yet about the next APSCG.
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Planning for the 2024 Eclipse
A lot of time this year has been dedicated to public safety communications planning in preparation for the Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024.
- Our Statewide Interoperability Coordinator and members of AWIN have participated in ADEM, Statewide, and Tri-State planning calls and events for Eclipse communications.
- Communications plan models have been developed to aid local governments in building their own communications plans for the Eclipse and beyond.
- PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency) planning has progressed beautifully with State agencies.
- Early this year, locations of state and national parks, campgrounds, festivals, and other regions where the most Eclipse spectators are anticipated were identified.
- The AWIN Operations team drove out to test AWIN radio and LTE coverage throughout the Path of Totality. This information helps with planning for the best placement of SOWS, COWS, and other resources.
- We are working with cooperating vendor partners to bring extra communications resources into Arkansas.
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Happy to Share What They Know... | |
Michael Hollinger, AWIN Support Technician, provides an AWIN Training presentation at the AEMA Conference in Hot Springs, August 2023. | |
J.M. Rowe talks PACE Planning and AUXCOMM at the AEMA Conference in Hot Springs, August 2023. | |
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It's Been a Busy Year for the AICEC
The Arkansas Interoperable Communications Executive Committee (AICEC) has faced many challenging decisions and completed a lot of work during their monthly meetings and beyond.
- The year started with the review and approval of the 115 AWIN Applications tied to APSCG, leading to a record-breaking year of AWIN Applications reviews in 2023.
- The AICEC participated in and gave final approval to the stakeholder-driven update of the Arkansas Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP).
- The Committee vetted and approved two new AWIN-Authorized Radio Programming Shops. (Welcome, Ka-Comm, Inc. and Paragould Communications!)
- The Cox Award nominations were reviewed and voted on by the AICEC. The 2023 Cox Award Winner is Natisha Claypool, Assistant Dispatch Manager of the Fayetteville Police Department, which was presented at the AEMA Conference in August.
- Members of the AICEC attended the FirstNet State Progress Briefing at ASP Headquarters, as well as engaging in communications planning and policy updates.
- The AICEC also approved a streamlined and more user-friendly version of the AWIN New Project Application.
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PIctured above: The AICEC enjoyed an off-site Holiday Lunch Meeting at the end of November, 2023. The Holiday Lunch is an annual tradition that gives members a chance to relax and enjoy each other's company, which is appreciated even more now that most meetings are virtual. More than half of the AICEC members were able to attend this year.
The AICEC wishes you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Pictured above: Justin Vint, ADEM Infrastructure & Support Division Director | |  |
Pictured above: Retired Judge Glenn "Sonny" Cox, our AICEC Chair, with Doris Smith (Department of Finance & Administration) and David Baker, AWIN Program Manager. | | |
From left to right: Jim Vaughan (Chief, Fire Department), CJ Engel (911 Board), and J.R. Wilson (Administrator, City of Hope). | | |
From left to right: Col. James "Wade" Mann (retired, Arkansas Army National Guard), Penny Rubow (AWIN Program Director and SWIC), and J.M. Rowe (ARES/RACES Liaison, SAFECOM). | | |
ARKANSAS WIRELESS INFORMATION NETWORK | [Website] | |
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