Town Enhances Public Safety by Expanding Wireless Access
Historic Abingdon, Virginia takes 4.9 GHz wireless broadband to the streets to improve emergency response, and extend free and open WiFi access to citizens
University Park, Ill,- With its decision to deploy 4.9GHz wireless broadband network to streamline emergency communications between first responders and citizens, Abingdon, Virginia continues to reinforce its reputation as a progressive municipality that's on-track with fast-moving trends in mobile computing and other networked applications. The broadband public safety network, provided by Federal Signal, employs a series of towers that rings the town delivering wireless access to virtually every corner of Abingdon. In addition to enhancing first responder emergency communications, the network also extends free and open 2.4 GHz WiFi access to all citizens.
Though some may find it surprising that Abingdon, a designated Virginia Historic Landmark founded in the mid 1700s, has led the way in deploying sophisticated wireless broadband technology for public safety, that's not the way Floyd Bailey, sees it. As the town's Director of Information Technology, Bailey views the decision to incorporate wireless broadband access into the town's overall communications strategy as an opportunity to leverage the explosive growth in smartphones and other smart devices to safeguard citizens throughout this community of 8,000-plus.
"Abingdon has always viewed itself as progressive," says Bailey, who points out that the town served as a municipal test site for fiber optics back in the early '90s. "Exploring the potential of expanding wireless bandwidth was enthusiastically supported by the town council," explains Bailey. He goes on to stress that in addition to focusing on the public safety application of the mesh network's 4.9GHz capability, they were well aware of the convenience that free and open WiFi access would mean to citizens and tourists alike.
The Federal Signal broadband wireless public safety network provides mission-critical support to police, fire and EMS personnel, while correspondingly giving citizens reliable wireless access at key locations throughout the town. The most notable of these locations are the downtown business and tourism district, the popular Barter Theater neighborhood, and several other high-traffic areas that most recently included construction of a tower for the Coomes Recreation Center.
Bailey emphasizes that the high-performance mesh network provides access to the Abingdon Police Department's CAD (computer aided dispatch) system at 4.9GHz, thereby enabling police officers and other first responders to interact directly with citizens who dial 911. The end result is improved transmission of voice, data and video for faster, more effective response to emergency situations.
Elaborating further, Bailey explains that the network gives emergency responders the ability to, "instantly synchronize key public-safety databases...transport video surveillance data...manage incident scene communications...and communicate with seamless interoperability." Another advantage of Federal Signal's network-managed system is that it supports trouble-shooting, activation and deactivation from the central dispatch location, as well as any point of access.
About Federal Signal Federal Signal Corporation (NYSE: FSS) enhances the safety, security and well-being of communities and workplaces around the world. Founded in 1901, Federal Signal is a leading global designer and manufacturer of products and total solutions that serve municipal, governmental, industrial and institutional customers. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., with manufacturing facilities worldwide, the company operates four groups: Safety and Security Systems, Environmental Solutions, Federal Signal Technologies, and Fire Rescue. For more information on Federal Signal, visit: www.federalsignal.com.
Media Contacts
Luke Cushman
Hill & Knowlton
+1 312-255-3080
Luke.Cushman@hillandknowlton.com
Brent Curry
Hill & Knowlton
+1 312-255-3086
Brent.Curry@hillandknowlton.com
