The supervisors soon may have a choice in which new emergency radio system they purchase. The county awaits Federal Communications Commission approval of high-frequency radio channels for which it applied last year. However, the supervisors March 6 voted unanimously to consider a less expensive, 150-MHz system as well. The board rejected such a system in 1998 because its staff found no channels available in that frequency range. Since then, the FCC made more 150-MHz channels available.
Costs estimates for the systems differ greatly.
Fauquier would pay for the system in installments using borrowed money. I mean, you finance your house differently than you finance your Yugo. Markham resident Dr. David Collins sits on a county committee charged with drafting the bid requirements for the proposed 800-MHz system. Cost estimates for that system shocked Dr. Collins, who hired a group of radio consultants at his expense to investigate less expensive alternatives. The supervisors March 6 decision authorized Dr. Collins' representatives to apply for 150-MHz channels on Fauquier's behalf.