All across the country, declining state and local revenues have caused budget cuts to numerous public safety agencies. Fire departments, with limited funds and the admonishment to do "more with less," are looking for two-way radio solutions with affordability as a major factor. Fortunately, there are options. In Los Angeles, the fire department's budget for the 2011-2012 year was $472 million, down from $561 million two years earlier. Last year, the city council voted to leave 318 firefighting positions unfilled. In Texas, lawmakers cut funds from $30 million to $7 million, forcing volunteer firefighters who were battling wildfires in 2011 to buy their own gear and even gas for the fire trucks. While the number of deadly fires has declined nationwide over the last 20 years, thanks to better construction and safety techniques, fire departments are increasingly called upon to answer medical emergencies, chemical spills, and more. Firefighters need reliable, versatile and sturdy wireless equipment. It's not an area where they can afford to sacrifice quality. But what kind of two-way radio is best suited for a fire department? The MOTOTRBO digital two-way radio platform from Motorola Solutions is a good option for the public safety industry due to its enhanced functionality:

• Expanded digital voice, data, and control capabilities
• Clearer voice communications over a greater range
• Static and noise reduction
• Extended battery life

The MOTOTRBO digital platform is compatible with legacy analog technology, giving users the ability to transition to a digital system as requirements dictate. The rugged Motorola CP200d, part of MOTOTRBO line, offers VHF and UHF signals. UHF signals can more easily go through walls, so when a firefighter is inside a burning building, calling for help, that message gets out. Firefighters need equipment that is built to last, and the CP200d was made with durability in mind. It is IP54 rated (splashproof and virtually dustproof), so it can be used in harsh environments. Moreover, it has been proven tough in Motorola's grueling Accelerated Life Test program, in which the design must survive a simulated five years of hard service before it is accepted. "Like it or not, the fire service is at a crossroads," said Timothy Sendelbach from FireRescue magazine. "We are faced with tough financial compromises and public scrutiny beyond the likes of any generation before us, and our previously accepted practices are going to be scrutinized and questioned at every corner. In some cases, we can rely upon our banked deposits of good deeds to guide us through, but in many others, we must rely on a more formidable tradition: going beyond the call of the duty."

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