Missoula County opposes HB 618, Establish a fee for statewide safety communications system, up for hearing tomorrow morning in House Taxation. HB 618 is an attempt to revive Interoperability Montana, a radio project started many years ago that ultimately failed because it lacked a clear plan to address user needs, funding and true access across the state. HB 618 has many of the same flaws of Interoperability Montana, including imposing a fee that will be spent largely without guidance from the Legislature, without input from local users and without any formal rules process. Missoula County recognizes the importance of addressing public safety radio needs, but the proposed system would not employ the necessary legislative processes to ensure successful implementation of a complex system.
Sent March 13:
ReplyDeleteRepresentative Marler,
Missoula County opposes HB 618, Establish a fee for statewide safety communications system, up for hearing tomorrow morning in House Taxation. HB 618 is an attempt to revive Interoperability Montana, a radio project started many years ago that ultimately failed because it lacked a clear plan to address user needs, funding and true access across the state. HB 618 has many of the same flaws of Interoperability Montana, including imposing a fee that will be spent largely without guidance from the Legislature, without input from local users and without any formal rules process. Missoula County recognizes the importance of addressing public safety radio needs, but the proposed system would not employ the necessary legislative processes to ensure successful implementation of a complex system.
Please oppose HB 618.