ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM CONSERVATION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT (FROM INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIME COUNTERMEASURES SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, PROCEEDINGS, 1977, BY JOHN S JACKSON - SEE NCJ-56184)

• NCJ Number: 56198
• Author(s): R E BROOKING
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Ores Publications
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE INCREASED USE OF THE RADIO SPECTRUM BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. SPECIFIC TOPICS INCLUDE THE NECESSARY USE OF ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING, AND FIELD OFFICERS' ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

Abstract

THE VAST INCREASE IN THE USE OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM BY THE POLICE INCREASED THE NEED FOR PROPER COORDINATION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS AGENCIES WITHIN EACH GEOGRAPHIC REGION. VOICE COMMUNICATIONS, EVEN IN THE 1950S WERE BECOMING INEFFICIENT BECAUSE OF 'SPECTRUM POLLUTION,' I.E. CONGESTION OF EACH RADIO FREQUENCY. INITIALLY THE POLLUTION PROBLEM WAS AMELIORATED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED RADIOS, BUT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MODERN LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE AGAIN RAISED THE NECESSITY FOR SPECTRUM CONSERVATION. THE USE, NOT ONLY OF VOICE COMMUNICATIONS, BUT OF ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS AND MOBILE TELEPRINTERS IN POLICE CARS, HAS SATURATED THE CAPACITY OF MANY POLICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS. THE HISTORY OF THE ASSOCIATED PUBLIC-SAFETY COMMUNICATION OFFICERS, INC., (APCO) IS REVIEWED. THE EFFORTS OF APCO HAVE INCLUDED SUGGESTING MODIFICATIONS FOR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS TO REDUCE INTERFERENCE, AND RECOMMENDING INCREASED POWER IN DATA PROCESSING COMMUNICATIONS. FEASIBILITY STUDIES, FUNDED BY LEAA, HAVE EXAMINED THE USE OF ADDITIONAL PORTIONS OF THE SPECTRUM BY POLICE COMMUNICATIONS. THE INCREASING NEED FOR SECURE, UNDERSTANDABLE TRANSMISSIONS REQUIRES WIDER BANDWIDTHS FOR POLICE RADIOS. REFERENCES AND GRAPHIC DATA ARE PROVIDED. (TWK).