The Communications Section consists
of two main areas of operation:
Statewide Dispatch
The Statewide Dispatch Center is located in a
secured area of the Central Office Complex.
The Dispatch Center consists
of three separate console positions with instant communications to all
parts of the state via microwave and fiber using voice over IP protocol. Each console has
computer access to the AHTD mainframe as well as to the Arkansas
Crime Information Center (ACIC) and the National Crime Information Center
(NCIC) systems.
All radio traffic throughout the state is received and monitored at all times. Eight Telecommunications Operators and one
Telecommunications Supervisor maintain a 24-hour a day, seven days a
week operation.
The dispatchers are responsible for
routine radio communications, updating road reports including the AHTD Road Conditions Hotline
and the AHTD web site, as well as traffic related
emergency communications. They are also responsible for providing information to the Arkansas
Highway Police to assist in the enforcement of trucking regulations. License checks
and criminal history information are obtained through the ACIC and
NCIC databases.
On a normal workday, the operators field over 500 radio and telephone calls.
In addition, all calls normally received by the Central Office Switchboard are
forwarded to the Dispatch Center during non-business hours or during
inclement weather.
To contact the Dispatch Center by
phone dial (501) 569-2469. To access the Road Condition Recording, updated for
road closings and inclement weather conditions, dial (501) 569-2374 or
1 (800) 245-1627. The Dispatch Center acts as a merging point for 2 radio systems. One is the Department's own legacy network of repeaters, base station, mobile radios, microwave stations, and hand held portables.
The other system is the Arkansas Wireless information Network that our Highway Police communicate over with mobile radios and handhelds. The AWIN system, maintained by the Arkansas Department of Information Systems, is a statewide radio system that allows inter-agency communications, primary public safety.
Communications Equipment Maintenance
Nine Communications Maintenance Specialist Maintain the Department's communication system. Five are responsible for two districts each and four are stationed in the Central Radio Shop. Although they are Communication Section personnel, they
work closely with the District personnel coordinating repairs, unit changes and
installations. In turn, the District personnel assist in the technician's
maintenance of the repeater facilities.
Each year, the purchase of new vehicles and new radio equipment
results in a mass number of radio changes. Each Technician is equipped with an
inventory of spare radios, parts, test equipment and tools necessary to make the
unit changes as well as replace and repair the majority of problems that occur.
They are also responsible for all related equipment in their district necessary
to keep the system operating, i.e., maintaining towers, transmission lines,
antennas, emergency generators, etc. In the past five years some 800 obsolete
radios have been replaced.