HARRISBURG, Pa. – Gaps in broadband, mobile, and radio connectivity continue to create significant challenges for first responders in rural Pennsylvania, according to new research released by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
The report, Broadband Connectivity Among Rural First Responders in Pennsylvania, was conducted by Christopher Ali, Ph.D., Abigail Simmerman, and DongWook Jeong of Pennsylvania State University. Through focus groups and interviews with law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical service providers, 911 center representatives, county officials, and other local stakeholders, researchers examined how rural first responders use communications technology and the barriers they encounter.
“Reliable communication is fundamental to emergency response and public safety,” said Senator Gene Yaw, Chairman of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. “When first responders cannot reliably communicate with dispatchers, other agencies, or one another, the consequences can extend well beyond a dropped call. This research gives policymakers important insight into the communications challenges facing the people who respond when rural Pennsylvanians need help most.”
Researchers found that rural first responders encounter dead zones and unreliable radio, cellular, and broadband coverage that can interfere with communications and access to information in the field. The study also found that different radio frequencies and systems can make it difficult for agencies and neighboring jurisdictions to communicate directly during emergencies.
Cost creates another significant barrier. Rural departments reported difficulty affording and replacing communications equipment, with individual radios costing upward of $10,000 and some equipment remaining in service for nearly two decades. Researchers found that limited resources can force first responders to improvise and work around communications failures while continuing to serve their communities.
“This research makes clear that reliable connectivity is public safety infrastructure,” said Zachary L. Adams, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. “Rural first responders are finding ways to work around dead zones, incompatible systems, and limited resources every day, but ingenuity should not have to substitute for reliable communications. Pennsylvania’s continued investments in connectivity should recognize the particular needs of the people responsible for responding to emergencies in rural communities.”
The report identifies several policy considerations for improving communications and public safety in rural Pennsylvania. These include using available federal broadband funds, if permitted, to support first responder and public safety needs; conducting a statewide assessment of mobile connectivity and existing tower assets; improving communication across agencies through broader adoption of the P25 radio standard without placing transition costs on local departments or counties; reducing the cost of replacing outdated radio equipment; strengthening funding for rural first responders; and making the $1.95 statewide 911 surcharge permanent.
The full report, Broadband Connectivity Among Rural First Responders in Pennsylvania, is available at www.rural.pa.gov/publications/research-reports.
About the Center for Rural Pennsylvania
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative agency of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Created in 1987 under the Rural Revitalization Act, the Center serves as a resource for rural policy within the General Assembly and works to promote and sustain the vitality of Pennsylvania’s rural and small communities.
— Center for Rural Pennsylvania