National Radio Quiet Zone Study Is Ongoing

On March 14, 2025, representatives from the County Commissions of Pendleton and Pocahontas Counties, along with officials from their respective Offices of Emergency Management/911, convened with representatives from government organizations responsible for the federal facilities protected by the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ): the Green Bank Observatory (GBO) and the Sugar Grove Research Station (SGRS). Also present were representatives of CTA Consultants, LLC, the engineering firm contracted by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct a comprehensive study of land-mobile radio emergency services communications in Pendleton and Pocahontas Counties.

The initial study is nearing completion and will soon progress to a testing phase, during which CTA, in collaboration with relevant parties, will execute on-air tests and other evaluations to assess the performance of emergency services communication systems while ensuring minimal interference with NRQZ facilities.  All parties are pleased to report significant advancements. The CTA study encompassed over 5,600 computer modeling simulations of existing and new potential radio system coverage patterns throughout both counties.

Findings suggest that terrain is the largest challenge in both counties and that VHF frequencies can generally yield better coverage with fewer towers and a lower cost than UHF. However, to ensure compatibility with the WV SIRN system utilizing UHF frequencies, recommendations included a focus on interoperability, incorporating dual-band radios. CTA recommended adjustments to radio frequency bandwidth used by the NRQZ administrator in their modeling to reflect the actual operating modes of modern systems. CTA also recommended modifications to the NRQZ computer modeling used to determine power output limits, incorporating more accurate details that may reduce the received power of signals at the federal facilities, like enhanced models for tree coverage. These modifications could improve the performance of emergency services communications by permitting slightly higher power transmissions.

CTA focused their studies on achieving 95% geographic coverage in both counties, which they note is the current standard for emergency communications coverage. Adding new tower sites was recognized as critical to accomplish this public safety standard. Additional augmentations were also explored, including receive-only tower sites, mobile units, and other techniques for reducing the energy radiated towards the two federal facilities and improving coverage.

Furthermore, NRQZ organizations are actively collaborating with satellite companies, including Starlink, to optimize service levels within the NRQZ, aiming to maximize coverage while safeguarding the government facilities at SGRS in Pendleton County and GBO in Pocahontas County. The current satellite coverage incorporates 97% of the geographic area of the NRQZ, with four exclusion cells (three around GBO and one around SGRS). Mobile service may be intermittently available in these four exclusion cells, but reductions of current service levels could occur as tests continue in these specific areas. Understanding that gaps in coverage are challenging, the NRQZ organizations are supporting ongoing testing and development to explore further reducing these exclusion areas using techniques such as the newly developed “Operational Data Sharing” techniques, especially around the Green Bank Observatory.

County representatives emphasized the importance of satellite service like Starlink, especially in areas that lack access to fiber optic cable or any other broadband internet service. As part of this initiative, the NRQZ has coordinated with Starlink to provide test units for emergency service vehicles. Two units will be supplied to each county. This effort aims to assess the benefits of additional wireless internet coverage, enabling emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to transmit critical medical data, such as EKGs, to medical command and hospitals ahead of patient arrival. A pilot study was discussed that will also enable Pocahontas and Pendleton Counties to further explore utilizing satellite services to enhance land mobile radio coverage and law enforcement capabilities.

Cheryl Giggetts, CTA Principal Consultant, stated, “We are dedicated to recommending reliable public safety grade communications to all agencies within Pendleton and Pocahontas Counties, while maintaining the mission of SGRS and GBO. CTA is grateful NSF is allowing us the opportunity to propose modeling parameter variations that could benefit Pendleton County, Pocahontas County, and all public safety agencies throughout the NRQZ.”

Rick Gillespie, Pendleton County Emergency Services Coordinator, has long championed the pursuit of viable solutions for both county and state level emergency services radio systems. Through collaborative efforts involving Pocahontas and other counties and the federal NRQZ entities, Gillespie stated, “We are encouraged by the discussions and the shared commitment to reach a successful outcome in hopes of improving our emergency services radio systems in service to the public, throughout the NRQZ. We look forward to continued work and cooperation on this very important matter.”

Michael O’Brien, Pocahontas County 911 Director, stated, “The ability to enhance emergency communications in our region is critical for the safety of our residents, visitors and first responders. We appreciate the ongoing collaboration with the NRQZ organizations and our neighboring counties, and we remain committed to finding solutions that balance technological advancements with the unique needs of our area.”

For more information, please contact:

Rick Gillespie, Emergency Services Coordinator

Pendleton County Office of Emergency Management

(304) 668-2822

Email: rickg@pendletoncountywv.gov

Michael O’Brien, Director, Pocahontas County EM/911

(304) 799-3985

Email: mobrien@pocahontascountywv.gov

The National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ) is administered by the U.S. National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc., on behalf of the Green Bank Observatory and the Sugar Grove Research Station.