State and Baltimore County officials celebrated the construction of a new radio transmission tower in Windsor Mill. Baltimore County is in the process of replacing its aging and outdated radio transmission network.
The new digital system will upgrade the old analog radio network. The three year project will also improve the quality of transmissions and help police and firefighters communicate better.
"One of the tragedies that we learned from September 11th in New York was that the firefighters and police could not talk to each other and could not communicate with each other. We need to learn from that mistake and make the investment today that allows firefighters and police officers to coordinate with each other," said Governor Martin O'Malley.
"This will enable Baltimore County to talk to other jurisdictions in any agency in the nation. If we are called to go south to help, we can communicate with people if they are on the digital channel," said Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith.
The county's new digital transmission system includes upgrades to police, fire, mobile data systems and the Department of Public Works Radio Network.
