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PRESS RELEASES |
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Here you'll find important
information about WCI and it's business partners. Be sure
to check back here to get the latest information. |
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M/A-COM VIDA
TECHNOLOGY ENHANCES AND EXTENDS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS AT
SUPER BOWL XLI |
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M/A-COM VIDA
Technology Augments Interoperability for City, County, State and
Federal First-Responders over the Miami-Dade County Radio Network
LOWELL, Mass.,
February 8, 2007 – Tyco Electronics’ M/A-COM business, a
worldwide leader of critical radio communication systems, today
announced that its VIDA technology was successfully deployed to
enhance and extend interoperable public safety communications
before, during and after Super Bowl XLI, played at Dolphin Stadium
in Miami Gardens, FL. On this special project M/A-COM worked
closely with its service partner Cooper-General, headquartered in
Miami, Florida, to deploy the VIDA network solution.
The M/A-COM VIDA
technology augmented interoperable communications between law
enforcement agencies who provided security for Super Bowl XLI.
Agencies using the system included the Miami-Dade County Police
Department, other local agencies in the Miami-Dade area, Florida
Department of Law Enforcement, the Miami-Dade County Fire
Department, Florida Highway Patrol, Broward County Sheriff’s
Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and
the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Throughout the duration
of the project M/A-COM and Cooper General worked in cooperation with
Miami-Dade County’s Enterprise Technology Services Department (ETSD)
to deploy the enhanced VIDA system.
“The safety of the
hundreds of thousands of fans and visitors that came to the Miami
area for the Super Bowl was the chief concern for all of the law
enforcement officials present, and the ability of these agencies
to easily communicate with each other whenever necessary was a
huge boost in our efforts to ensure the public’s safety,” said
sergeant Robert Sisley, Miami-Dade Police Department. “It was
reassuring for all of us at the Miami-Dade Police Department to
know that we could connect with other law enforcement officials
instantly to work together to keep this year’s Super Bowl XLI safe
for all participants.”
The M/A-COM VIDA
network platform is a cost-effective, IP-based interoperable radio
communications technology that supports P25 and other IP-based
systems. VIDA is the platform that enabled a recent demonstration of
the new P25 Inter RF SubSystem Interface (ISSI) networking standard
with another manufacturer. It provides a full IP management
platform including interoperability without intervention of console
operators, IP consoles, networking technology for both the P25 phase
I and P25 phase II standards, plus many other benefits inherent in
open IP architecture systems.
The VIDA platform also
provided interoperable communications with State Law Enforcement
Agencies throughout Florida using Florida’s Statewide Law
Enforcement Radio System (SLERS), a statewide radio communications
system deployed and maintained by M/A-COM for public safety and
public service users throughout the state.
“M/A-COM was proud
to provide this interoperability technology solution to law
enforcement and public safety officials during this Super Bowl
game that attracted hundreds of thousands of people to the Miami
area,” said Fred Gallart, South Area sales director, Tyco
Electronics M/A-COM. “Certainly the full deployment of our VIDA
network solution on the Miami-Dade system contributed directly to
the safety and security of Super Bowl XLI. As an added benefit,
all public safety users in this area can now experience the real
benefits of having true interoperable communications at their
fingertips.”
Tyco Electronics’
M/A-COM business is a leading supplier of critical communications
systems and equipment for public safety, utility, federal and select
commercial markets. Products range from some of the most advanced
IP-based voice and data networks, to traditional wireless systems
that offer customers the highest levels of reliability,
interoperability, scalability and security. M/A-COM is also a
recognized leader in the design and manufacture of radio frequency (RF),
microwave and millimeter wave solutions for the commercial wireless
telecommunications, aerospace and defense industries. Headquartered
in Lowell, MA, M/A-COM has offices and manufacturing facilities
worldwide. Information about M/A-COM can be found on the Web at
www.macom.com
or
www.macom-wireless.com.
Tyco Electronics is a
leading global provider of engineered electronic components, network
solutions and wireless systems, with 2006 sales of $12.7 billion to
customers in 150 countries. We design, manufacture and market
products for customers in industries from automotive, appliances and
aerospace and defense to telecommunications, computers and consumer
electronics. With over 8,000 engineers and worldwide manufacturing,
sales and customer service capabilities, Tyco Electronics'
commitment is our customers' advantage.
M/A-COM, TYCO and VIDA
are trademarks of Tyco Electronics / M/A-COM Private Radio Systems.
Other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be
trademarks of their respective owners.
For sales
information, please contact:
Williams Communications, Inc.
5046 Tennessee Capital Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32303
1.800.649.5783
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BUSTang D.A.R.E.s
to be the Best |
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October 9,
2006 - Carrabelle, FL
Move over Batmobile,
there’s a new V8 on the block that’s fighting crime by keeping kids
off drugs. And, this one is the best of its kind. The Franklin
County Sheriff’s Office’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)
car, better known as “BUSTang,” competed with more than 60 other
cars to take home the trophy for first place at the National D.A.R.E.
Conference, held recently at Orlando’s Coronado Springs Conference
Center.
The Franklin County
Sheriff’s Office, students in Franklin County Schools and Williams
Communications, Inc., joined efforts to design and build the 2006
Ford Mustang GT, nicknamed BUSTang.
“We’re excited to see
our advanced communication systems being utilized to educate the
students in Franklin County,” said Scott McGuire, Installations
Manager of Williams Communications, Inc. of Tallahassee and a
liaison with the Franklin County Sheriffs’ Office. “It’s a cool and
unconventional way of getting out the message to kids to stay off
drugs, and I think it’s getting their attention.”
Sheriff Mike Mock of
the Franklin County Office agrees. “If the D.A.R.E. Program saves
just one child’s life, it’s worth it,” said Mock.
McGuire and his
installation team at Williams Communications equipped the BUSTang
with a 2000-watt stereo system; an 800 MHz, encrypted M/A-COM radio
system; 200 LED lights around and underneath the car; eight
speakers; and a DVD multimedia system including two video monitors,
making the BUSTang not only a cool ride for Sgt. Ryan Sandoval,
Franklin County Schools’ D.A.R.E. Officer, but also an effective
tool for educating the county’s students about the dangers of using
drugs.
This fall, the BUSTang
will educate students with a DVD video show from the video monitor
on the inside hood of the trunk, as well as a fiberglass molded
display containing a “substance abuse identification kit” on the
floor of the trunk. It is Sandoval’s hope that the BUSTang will
help to save the kids of Franklin County, just like the Batmobile
helped save Gotham City.
Sandoval’s peers also
are impressed with the hot, yellow vehicle. The BUSTang was deemed
“best D.A.R.E. car in the nation” in July when it won first place at
the National D.A.R.E. Conference in Orlando.
Williams
Communications, Inc. is a Tallahassee-based distributor of M/A-COM’s
wireless and emergency lighting systems, including the State Law
Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) which connects law enforcement and
other agencies throughout Florida. Since 1959, the company has been
a leader in providing the most secure, reliable and interoperable
communications to public safety organizations, businesses and the
general public.
For more information
about Williams Communications, Inc., visit
www.wmscom.com.
To learn more about Project BUSTang and the Franklin County D.A.R.E.
Program, visit
www.franklinsheriff.com/Index/DARE.htm.
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Project BUSTang
Roars Down Franklin County Streets |
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Reprinted with
permission from the Apalachicola & Carrabelle Times
Story By: Dale Kingon
March 2, 2006 -
Franklin County, FL
Sporting flashy
pinstripes over its brilliant yellow paint, the newest and some
might say coolest, tool in the war on drugs is now on the streets of
Franklin County.
The flamboyant 2006
yellow Mustang GT was purchased in December 2005 by the Franklin
County Sheriff’s Office for the drug abuse resistance education
program.
Every year the county
allots the sheriff’s office a sum of money dedicated for getting new
vehicles. This 2006 warrior against drugs cost the county $22,587,
nearly $500 less than the amount allotted for the purchase.
The car and its subsequent work is dubbed “Project BUSTang” by the
sheriff’s office because it was outfitted using funds from the
forfeiture fund. The forfeiture fund uses money confiscated during
drug arrests.
“If money is found
during the course of a drug arrest we can seize it,” said Ginger
Coulter, the sheriff’s office finance officer. If the courts see fit
they can give the money to the sheriff’s office, it then goes into
the forfeiture fund. State law mandates that the D.A.R.E. program
get a certain percentage of the funds.
“It is nice for the
community to see that the money seized during drug arrests is going
back into the fight against drugs,” said Coulter. Usually the
vehicles purchased by the Sheriff’s Office have lights and striping
put on using money from the general fund.
Sgt. Ryan Sandoval,
D.A.R.E. officer, and Scott McGuire, from Williams Communications of
Tallahassee, together with the fifth grade students in the D.A.R.E.
program worked together to create the coolest D.A.R.E. car in the
United States.
“I think it was
important for the kids to get involved with this project, so I let
the kids of my D.A.R.E. classes vote on what they wanted to do with
the car and they did an awesome job! Just look at the car; they
helped design it,” said Sandoval.
“It’s all about the
children and if we can save just one child from going down the wrong
path of drugs with the D.A.R.E. program then it’s all worth it,”
said Sheriff Mike Mock.
The new Mustang is
sure to go a long way toward catching the attention of
impressionable students.

Photo: Scott McGuire
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