Alberta First Responders Radio Communications System Equipment Funding

The Alberta First Responders Radio Communications System (AFRRCS) is the provincewide radio system that helps first-responders, such as police, fire, and ambulance, coordinate to improve safety and response times.

AFRRCS Operations, Maintenance and Sustainability (OMS) is responsible for the maintenance of the system and network to allow communications encompassing 335 sites and over 33,000 devices. The system is monitored 24/7, 365 days a year by the System Control Centre (SCC). There has been substantial provincial investment to build the infrastructure of the system across the province, while encouraging all relevant stakeholders to participate to achieve complete inter-operability Alberta-wide.

First responder agencies are eligible to use the system on a no-cost basis. Approved secondary responders are permitted to use the system with a yearly fee. This does not include the expense of equipment, which can cost $5,000 to $15,000 per radio unit. For context, a larger community like Strathmore required a $250,000 investment to furnish the number of radios required to support the detachment.

The system has been operational since July 2016, but not all municipalities in Alberta are current participants due to the investment required in the radios needed to access the system. Unfortunately, the outlay of dollars for these radios is cost intrusive to many budgets in towns, villages and counties with vast space and smaller populations.

The Town of Strathmore prioritizes Community Wellness as a part of its strategic plan – putting emphasis on the value of the health of residents, and focusing on the maintenance, protection, and improvement of services that support optimum lifestyles. Alberta has one of the largest and fastest growing populations in the country and Strathmore has seen its share of growth. With a population of nearly 15,000 it is imperative that additional available safety measures be accessed, not only by the Town, but extending to the surrounding communities. It is these smaller community partners who should not be overlooked, as everyone works together to contribute to the safety of Albertans. Those wearing the same uniform should be afforded the same access to communication systems to achieve the greatest benefit. It puts residents at a disadvantage and overall risk when not all villages, towns, and smaller municipalities in the province share in the amazing tool that is the Alberta First Responders Radio Communications System. Strathmore has extensive firsthand experience in the challenges faced with communications when working together with neighbouring municipalities to respond to major incidents along Highway 1 who are not all on the same system. These learnings highlight the importance of these tools.

Alberta Municipalities has advocated for collaboration between communities, and putting everyone on an equal footing with access to use of core resources that pertain to the safety and well-being of Albertans should be considered.

The proposal before Alberta Municipalities’ members is to advocate that the Government of Alberta provide financial support for the purposes of obtaining the required resources, in the form of emergency service radios, to access the AFRRCS. The proposed action would be in alignment with the Government of Alberta’s mission to support rural economic development. Smaller communities building their support systems serves to deliver on this by having the same advantages as larger urban centres.

The health and safety of all Albertans is a priority and ensuring that the delivery of care by those first responders who know their communities best – through access to cost effective, secure, reliable, accessible land mobile radio communications that benefit everyone.