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The National Capital Region (NCR) Radio Cache consists of 1,250 portable radios and ancillary support equipment. Additionally, each cache has two disposable batteries and two rechargeable batteries per radio and the capability of recharging a third of its batteries simultaneously. All equipment is stored in three individual, self-contained, field deployable, caches. The radios are programmed to affiliate with the fourteen 800 MHz Public Safety Radio Systems operating in the region. They are capable of communicating with all Law Enforcement and Fire and Rescue agencies within those systems. The three radio caches are located, maintained, and managed in the following jurisdictions: Montgomery County, Maryland with 500 radios, Fairfax County, Virginia with 500 radios, and the District of Columbia with 250 radios.
In addition to containing portable radios, each radio cache contains tactical audio gateways that permit interoperability with municipalities not operating on 800 MHz systems. There are portable repeaters that can be used on the RINS or 8TAC channels for localized operations. Additionally, special equipment to support in-building or below-grade/tunnel communications is included in each cache. Finally, each cache has the capability to reprogram its radios during emergency events to meet unanticipated communication requirements.
The NCR Radio Cache is funded through a Department of Homeland Security Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant. It is available to support public safety communications within the National Capital Region for emergency and/or scheduled events. Within two hours of receiving an emergency deployment request, the radio cache would be en-route, to the requesting agency, with a support staff that includes a NIMS qualified Communications Unit Leaders (COML) and communications technicians (COMT).
Deployments for scheduled events would be requested in advance and approved by the Fire Chief from the jurisdiction from which the radio cache will be deployed. Radios and support equipment (e.g. batteries and chargers) would typically be issued, in bulk, to a representative of the requesting agency several days prior to the event, unless the request specifically addressed support personnel. A request for tactical repeaters and gateway devices would involve a planning meeting with the cache manager or COML to review an event’s communications plan (ICS 205). Once the plan is approved, the need to deploy one or more personnel to maintain the equipment during the event would be assessed.