North Fayette will have to update its emergency dispatch system or switch to Allegheny County's 911 service.
Police Chief Jeffrey Falconer said Thursday night that to keep operating the call center, the township must buy new equipment in order to comply with Federal Communications Commission rules regarding bandwidth. Officials are considering if they can afford the investment, he said.
"Ultimately, we have to make a decision here whether to keep our current dispatch center or go with 911," Chief Falconer told the supervisors.
Like all public safety radio systems, the township system must convert from a wide to a narrowband channel by Jan. 1, 2013. Deadline to request a narrowband license is June 15 this year.
The North Fayette Police Department employs five dispatchers who answer emergency police, fire and ambulance calls that are dialed directly to 724-693-8400 or routed through 911, the township website says.
First Published: February 5, 2010, 10:45 a.m.