Pocahontas EMS Supports Resolution for Modernizing NRQZ Regulations

Pocahontas County Emergency Management / 911 stands firmly in support of the Pocahontas County Commission’s resolution calling for modernizing National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ) regulations. The resolution seeks exemptions for public safety communications of the radio frequency spectrum allocated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), highlighting the urgent need for updated regulations that align with modern technologies used by first responders.

Communication Challenges in the NRQZ

NRQZ restrictions, created in the 1950s to protect scientific research at the Green Bank Observatory and Sugar Grove Naval Radio Research Observatory have become a significant hinderance for emergency services in the county. First responders often face dangerous communications gaps when operating within the county and when responders from neighboring counties come to provide mutual aid, putting both responders and the people they are trying to help at risk. While we appreciate the Green Bank Observatory’s contributions to astronomy, the economy, and its role in bringing attention to our county, NRQZ regulations do not allow us to keep pace with advancements in public safety communication technologies.  The inability to reliably communicate in emergency situations due to outdated regulations and coordination processes threatens the safety of residents and visitors alike.

Satellite Technology is a Necessity Now and for the Future

The law establishing the NRQZ regulations allows NRAO to limit radio interference from ground-based sources fixed at a position, such as an antenna on a tower. This limits where we can place a tower, the direction of the signal, the power of the signal, and the frequency of the signal, the result is many locations in the county where first responders who may be in dangerous situations cannot speak to 911 dispatch. Over the past year, Pocahontas County Emergency Management had successfully implemented Starlink satellite communication systems to help fill some of the gaps and create service redundancy to improve emergency response in areas with inadequate radio reception. However, at the request of NRAO, Starlink recently entered into a voluntary agreement that has decreased access to Starlink service across the county. Unfortunately, emergency services were not considered in this agreement, despite prior recommendations from NRAO that we explore satellite technology as an option for meeting our needs. Our attempts to work with Starlink representatives were denied and were met with responses that this issue is dictated by local government mandates, indicating Starlink does not understand the situation, as radio frequency interference is not regulated by local laws.

Additionally, upon our asking NRAO to involve us, Emergency Management & 911 officials were told we would not be allowed to participate in National Science Foundation studies and on the impact of restricting satellite communications within the NRQZ. Emergency Management and 911 officials need to be involved to create a solution that works for all entities. With next-generation 911 core services and satellite-based Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) rapidly advancing, the availability of satellite communications within the NRQZ must account for the current and future needs of local public safety.

Protecting Public Safety in an Evolving Technological Landscape

The Pocahontas County Commission’s resolution is not an attempt to eliminate the NRQZ, but to find a balanced solution that protects public safety without undermining the important work of the Green Bank Observatory. We propose that the FCC exempt frequencies used by local emergency services from NRQZ coordination requirements, particularly frequency bands that the Green Bank Observatory acknowledged they no longer actively use for research.

The NRQZ Coordination Office is now based in Charlottesville, VA, meaning that the people enforcing these regulations are no longer embedded in our community, nor are they directly affected by these restrictions in their day-to-day lives. It is our hope that local, state, and federal legislators will recognize the unique and significant burden placed on our emergency services and act swiftly to implement these necessary changes.

To date Pocahontas, Pendleton, Barbour, Webster, Grant, Randolph, Tucker, Upshur Counties, and Seneca Rocks Regional Development Authority representing Grant and Pendleton Counties, have passed resolutions regarding public safety communications difficulties due to the NRQZ.

The resolutions come at the request of federal elected officials who were not aware of public safety communications difficulties when we spoke with them. They asked for resolutions indicating our problems and needs, so they can help find a solution. We greatly appreciate their support.

For further information, please contact Pocahontas County Emergency Management / 911 at 304-799-3985