ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST ISSUES LEASES FOR REGIONAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
ARCADIA, Calif. — An important component in modernizing communications among first responders in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area is underway. On February 7, 2020, Rachel Smith, Angeles National Forest (ANF) Deputy Supervisor, signed the leases for the first five (5) of 13 proposed towers for a new Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systemoperated by the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS) Authority. This LMR system
will unify local, state, or federal emergency responders’ communications with a single state-of-the-art network.
This follows an Oct. 31, 2019, decision to lease the 13 sites in the Angeles National Forest and now clears the path for
tower construction to begin. The leases are for 30 years of operation and maintenance.
“This will significantly improve communications for first responders in L.A. County,” said Smith. “The signing of the tower leases is a big step towards developing a modern public safety network.”
“The communications towers in the forest will help protect the region’s first responders that are risking their lives to protect the public, and we thank the USFS for these leases.” Scott Edson, Executive Director, Los Angeles Interoperable Communications System.
The 13 project sites, distributed across the Angeles National Forest, are part of a proposed 60-site LMR system across LA County. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing federal funding for the county-wide LMR project.
The Angeles National Forest manages land for a variety of multiple uses, including mountain top communication sites.
Site specific analysis was completed to meet Forest Service requirements for protection of natural resources, and to
ensure that the project follows the ANF Land Management Plan. All 13 sites on National Forest System land were previously designated and managed as communication sites.
For additional information regarding this decision contact: Justin Seastrand, Public Services Staff Officer. For more information regarding the LA-RICS Land Mobile Radio project, contact Wendy Stallworth-Tait, wendy.stallworthtait@la-rics.org
