The Southeastern Homeland Security Advisory Council (SRAC) has been working closely with Ross & Baruzzini, a consulting, design and engineering firm, to oversee the erecting of a new radio communications tower at Copicut Hill in Fall River, MA. Additionally, the SRAC has partnered with Industrial Communications, a tower construction, network infrastructure, and wireless communications company, to build the tower. 

Since this past October, the land around the construction site has been cleared and all site preparation work has been completed. Overall progress has been smooth with minor delays despite periods of inclement weather. Thus far, 90 feet of the 180-foot tower is installed. Construction crews are awaiting the delivery of a tower communications shelter, which will eventually house ground mounted telecommunications and data equipment. The shelter is lightweight, insulated and weather-tight, and will send radio transmission signals to several microwave dishes and transmitters that will eventually be installed on the tower. 

The Homeland Security grant funding associated to the planning and construction of this tower will enhance radio interoperability coverage throughout Bristol and Plymouth counties. This tower project will be instrumental to public safety operators, as it will strengthen their ability to communicate effectively with one another. This tower will also allow local, state and federal public safety agencies to not only talk to one another by radio, but will allow operators to better share information with one another in a clearer manner. 

The SRAC remains steadfast in its multi-year commitment to help sustain interoperable radio expansion and infrastructure across the region.