[FedCom] Where Has Customs Gone?

[fedcom@mailman.qth.net]

I totally agree with Bill on the Nextel topic.  Feds are still continuing to 
pour millions into VHF & UHF upgrades nationwide, which should indicate to 
most that if Nextel was as widely used by the Feds as many speculate here, 
then the ongoing purchase of equipment, system and digital upgrades would not 
be as expansive as they currently are.   IN fact, why waste taxpayer dollars, 
if Nextel is spending their money?  The answer is, because they are not 
moving to Nextel and if Nextel did not have the direct connect feature, 
chances are, they would still have Nextel units because of the price of the 
service contract.  Nextel does provide an attractive pricing scheme for 
government and large corp. users.

Also, like Bill,  I too have some co-mingling with the Feds in my FTJ and SEE 
the use of the Nextels.  That use is for cellphone use "primarily".  I am not 
saying that at times, guys don't communicate with each other off the Fed 
system for the informal discussions that we all used to like to listen too.  
Likewise, I am not saying that Nextel has never been used in the unit to unit 
(direct) mode to conduct a surveillance, but I am stating that the Feds have 
not "moved" to Nextel like many have been reporting for years now.   This 
topic comes up from time to time because someone sees a fed on a Nextel or 
watches something on TV and sees a Nextel.

Depending on the agency, radio use varies.  Just because you watch the 
evening news and see a Bank Robbery and a shot of an agent using a nextel is 
seen and he is not lugging around the HT, does not mean they went to Nextel.  
  Oh, and the topic was where have USCS gone?  Customs was using Nextel prior 
to them restructuring the Nationwide ComSystem and making the Sector comms 
from Florida.  Also prior to the OTAR system even, so if Nextel was the item 
of choice, wouldn't they have just saved all that effort and used Nextel.   
Hey, what if Nextel was the next big corporate giant  like WorldCom to go 
under>  Then what, the feds wouldn't have communications?  Think about it, I 
think the superficial use in the direct mode is not going to replace the 
normal lines of communications.  Any good investigator is going to look for 
additional tools to do his job.  Nextel direct mode provides an alternate 
means at times to communicate.
Just my two cents...



>  >>>>>As someone who deals with many of these Federal agencies from 
> time-time in
> my F/T job, I have only seen the migration to Nextel as an Alternative to
> Verizon and CellularOne in the Major Metro Areas.
> 
> The agencies are still maintaining and using their Normal VHF and UHF Radio
> equipment, however the Nextel does make it a little easier for the Cellular
> as well as the Direct Connect features at times, but Alas we have no fear
> (atleast in Boston, from my perspective) of loosing the ability to monitor
> our Favorite Alphabet Soups. >>>>>
> 




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