ELKINS — Eight county commissions, including Randolph’s and a host of surrounding counties’, have issued resolutions expressing concerns about the National Radio Quiet Zone and its effect on public safety communication.

The resolutions highlight what are felt to be detrimental impacts of the Quiet Zone, which was established in 1957 to reduce radio interference at sensitive communication sites, such as the Green Bank Observatory in Pocahontas County and the Sugar Grove Research Station in Pendleton County.

The National Radio Quiet Zone covers approximately 13,0000 square miles. According to multiple Office of Emergency Management directors in the region, its limitations on radio communications pose significant challenges to first responders, jeopardizing the effectiveness of emergency response efforts.

“While we acknowledge and respect the missions of the Green Bank Observatory and Sugar Grove Research Station, we urge the National Science Foundation, the Green Bank Observatory, and the National Security Agency/Sugar Grove Research Station to recognize and support the essential functions of our emergency management organizations and first responder agencies, including Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement,” Pendleton County OEM Director Rick Gillespie said in a press release.

“Our request is not for the closure of these federal entities but for their commitment to identifying and funding viable solutions that will enable our communication systems to operate effectively, similar to those in other regions of the country.”

County commissions passing resolutions and expressing concerns regarding the negative impacts of the National Radio Quiet Zone include Barbour, Grant, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker, Upshur, and Webster. 

Randolph County Commissioners Cris Siler, David Kesling and Chris See unanimously approved a resolution opposing continued intervention in public safety and cellular/wireless communications by the NRQZ. 

Michael Miller, told The Inter-Mountain that Randolph County is among the most affected by the Quiet Zone.

“Pocahontas, Pendleton and Randolph are counties hurt the worst from the National Radio Quiet Zone,” said Miller. “The communication towers are turned down so much in those three counties that it poses many risks to the public and our first responders.

“There are some spots in Randolph County where our law enforcement officers can’t call for help if they need it. They (Greenbank) are controlling so much of the air space that in order for me to even kind of get the coverage we need, I’d have to put up two or three more towers which would cost over $100,000 each. And that’s just to get the coverage in all the dead spots that we have.”

The restrictions imposed by the NRQZ inhibit the use of essential communication systems, including modern two-way radio networks, cellular and wireless data systems, and satellite broadband services such as Starlink.

Since all of these communications methods are heavily used by emergency responders, the limitations pose a risk to public safety by potentially delaying emergency response and, consequently, endangering lives, officials said. 

“We assert that the federal NRQZ regulations, established in the late 1950s, no longer align with contemporary communication tools utilized by first responders across the nation,” said Gillespie, a retired West Virginia state trooper.

“Our region, characterized by a significant percentage of public lands–including National Forests, State Forests, and State Parks–carries the responsibility of ensuring the safety of numerous visitors and residents.”

Gillespie and Miller agreed that one of the big issues in the areas is how first responders are required to use Very High Frequency (VHF) radio bands instead of Ultra High Frequency (UHF) bands, which they typically use. 

“While some waivers for the VHF Band have been granted, the existing statewide interoperable system was built to operate on the UHF Band due to frequency licensing issues when the sites were being planned,” said Gillespie. “We need federal support to secure workable frequencies and fund our transition if a move to VHF is desired. The currently operational UHF equipment in Pendleton and statewide by the State of West Virginia will not operate on the VHF Band, it takes new hilltop and user devices to make the conversion.”

Gillespie added that having cellular service in the area for both first responders and the public is also important. “There is no doubt that our entire region could be enjoying a wider coverage for cell phones and other wireless devices if the NRQZ did not inhibit cellular towers,” he said. “We have documented proof that cell companies wanted to locate new sites in this region and the restrictions were going to be so heavy that they declined to build. Additionally, cell sites that are on the air suffer the same mandated signal nulls as our 911 towers, meaning they are covering a reduced area. 

Gillespie noted that first responder agencies utilize cell tower signals to support their missions and that ambulance crews can transmit EKG’s to medical command doctors, receiving doctor’s orders while enroute to the hospital with a patient, enhancing care. Law enforcement officers utilize in-car mobile data terminals for numerous functions increasing officer and public safety.  

“Through current times, any new adjustments to the NRQZ regulations have not included us with a seat at the table,” said Gillespie. “These restrictions keep escalating absent our input. That must cease. We call upon the relevant federal agencies to engage in constructive dialogue and provide the necessary support to alleviate the impacts of NRQZ regulations on our emergency services and public safety communications.”