New York's Radio Network Fails Emergency Test
New York's emergency radio network that costed $2 billion to taxpayers has completely failed its first major test. The emergency radio network was supposed to connect first responders including New York's police and fire departments. Failure of emergency network is an alarm signal tha should wake up city officials.
It was M/A-com, a division of Tyco International, that undertook a $2 bln contract to build a network of wireless transmission towers. The first stage of the Statewide Wireless Network, was supposed to be set up in Buffalo and Erie County as well as in Chatauqua County by June 2007. An upgrade for the New York's obsolete emergency radio network had been put on hold since the 1990s, but after the Sept. 11 attacks it has been somewhat revived.