Raytheon launches Quad Cities interoperability pilot

The Quad Cities, those four muncipalities that flank the Mississippi River in Iowa and Illinois, are getting a helping hand with their radio interoperability problems from Raytheon. The company is launching a $2 million pilot program in Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, East Moline, Rock Island, and Milan (strangely, the Quad Cities are really five) to provide interoperability, remote broadband access, and mobile situational awareness. “This public-private partnership will provide critical information to our incident commanders in real time — enabling them to manage emergency incidents safely and effectively,” said Fire Chief Mark Frese of the Davenport (Iowa) Fire Department. A local hospital is also involved.

Under the agreement, Raytheon will install equipment at eight spots such as water towers and tall buildings around the area. As a pilot program, however, the cities bear no additional costs other than to provide links to existing infrastructure and to allow the trial members to bring in observers from community, state and federal agencies across the country. Raytheon and its partners clearly believe that, once installed, the system will be too attractive for Quad Cities and other interested municipalities to resist. “Anyone who is bringing something into the pilot as a (vendor) partner is required to bring the support