RADIO SYSTEM DEDICATED BY
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S OAK RIDGE OFFICE
Serves Entire Oak Ridge Reservation
 

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office Manager Gerald Boyd and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Bassham dedicated the new Wide Area Radio System today.  Federal, state and local elected officials and several emergency response agencies also participated.

The Wide Area Radio System provides DOE with an integrated, state-of-the-art, wireless portable radio communications system that services all users on the 33,749-acre Oak Ridge Reservation. 

“We are very pleased to have this new system on the Oak Ridge Reservation,” Boyd said.  “And, to have the DOE Oak Ridge Office and outside agencies working together is exciting.  This will certainly enhance our ability to communicate with one another since we will be on one system.”

The system also links federal facilities in the Oak Ridge area and connects the Oak Ridge DOE sites with state and local government emergency services.  Previously, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, East Tennessee Technology Park and Y-12 National Security Complex were on separate radio systems.  With WARS, they operate on a single system.   

WARS also provides interoperability with numerous emergency response and law enforcement organizations, including Roane County, Anderson County, the City of Oak Ridge, and TEMA. 

“We applaud any effort that moves us toward interoperability,” said Jim Bassham, TEMA Director.  “This is right in line with the Governor’s top priority, homeland security.” 

Also celebrating the dedication were mayors in counties that will be serviced by WARS.  Ken Yager, Roane County Mayor; Rex Lynch, Anderson County Mayor; and David Bradshaw,  Oak Ridge Mayor, spoke about the new system.   The dedication was held at the McKinney Ridge Radio Tower off Blair Road in Roane County.

-DOE-

R-05-017