RESTON, Va., Aug. 20, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) has announced that the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, one of only two U.S. fire-rescue organizations that support the government's international emergency disaster relief efforts, has selected MSV's voice and radio-dispatch services as a component of its new command vehicle design.
A pioneering satellite phone user and veteran MSV customer, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue will equip their new state-of-the-art tactical command vehicles with MSV voice, data and radio dispatch capabilities.
Operating on a push-to-talk principle, MSV's two-way, wireless Dispatch Radio Service covers North and Central America, the Caribbean, parts of South America, and up to 250 miles offshore. MSV operates the largest North America network for radio dispatch services supporting up to 15 talk groups from any one terminal. The MSV network includes two geo-stationary satellites and ground stations in Reston, Va., and in Ottawa.
"All of these vehicles are going to have MSV equipment on them because that is the standard for us now," said Justin Wasilkowski, a 19-year firefighting veteran and member of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Tactical Communications Group (T-Comm). "A major advantage of MSV radio talk groups is interoperability, which enables us to increase interoperability with other fire departments and state agencies. Going forward as we look to provide support to the Department of Homeland Security, interoperability, redundancy and cross-agency coordination will be extremely important, and MSV helps us with all three," Wasilkowski concluded.
The Miami Dade Fire Rescue USAR team includes rescue specialists, structural engineers, K-9 unit handlers, hazardous material experts, medical personnel, and logistics staff, who are deployed to earthquakes, hurricanes, plane crashes and other disasters across the United States and internationally each year.
Phil Clarke, director, Business Development for MSV, said, "MSV is proud to serve the critical communications requirements for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, a leader in satellite technology use and a unit that serves as the benchmark to other search and rescue teams for how to coordinate a disaster response effectively."
About Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department is one of the youngest, fastest-growing departments of its size in the country, and leads the nation in Fire Suppression, Emergency Medical Services, Search and Rescue and other specialized areas. The efforts of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department have garnered world recognition. MDFR maintains Crash Fire Rescue units at two local airports, including an entire Division at Miami International Airport. The Department's Urban Search and Rescue Team has responded to natural disasters throughout the world, as well as the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City. For more information, visit http://www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/mdfr/.
About MSV
MSV is North America's premier provider of mobile satellite communications services. Providing service since 1996, MSV gives customers a wide choice of wireless data, voice, fax and dispatch radio services via its two MSAT satellites. MSV is headquartered in Reston, Va., with an office in Ottawa, ON, Canada. For more information, visit MSV online at www.msvlp.com.
Editor's Note: Access a photo of Justin Wasilkowski inside an MSV-equipped Miami Dade Fire Rescue Mobile Command Center vehicle at: http://www.msvlp.com/partnersonly/photos/hr/miami%2Ddade%2Ejpg.
More information on Homeland Security issues, including news releases, events and experts available for comment, can be found on the Homeland Security Newsline at www.primezone.com/hs