DAS Migration Process Overview
The DAS Migration Process is when over 700 properties in King County will need to disable their public safety DAS from the analog emergency radio system and take steps to become compliant with the new digital Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN). The PSERN Project has been directly communicating with stakeholders about the legal requirements of this change since 2020. Below is a diagram of the steps properties will need to take to become compliant with PSERN.
Property DAS Migration Process
Properties will start their migration on an assigned DAS Shutdown Date. After their public safety DAS is disabled, their next steps will be determined based on an assessment of their DAS – either they will need to recommission and validate their DAS or, they will need to submit official documentation that they have sufficient radio coverage without public safety DAS. It is expected that most properties will continue to need a public safety DAS due to property-specific architectural design elements or building materials, such as thick concrete or energy-efficient insulation that restrict radio signals. A property will have completed the DAS Migration Process when both PSERN and Fire Marshal requirements are satisfied. Properties should contact their local Fire Marshal if they have any fire code compliance questions. Review property responsibilities about the DAS assessment process and watch the following to learn more:
Prioritization and Dates
Properties with public safety DAS will begin to migrate based on when first responders in their area begin using PSERN and the priority level the Fire Marshal designates for their property. Example priority descriptions include critical infrastructure (e.g., highway tunnel, jail, trauma hospital), large gathering spaces (e.g. convention center, mall, stadium), new construction, and other properties. The PSERN Project will directly send each property contact on record the exact dates for their property based on their priority level and continue to send reminders starting two months prior to their DAS Shutdown Date.
View DAS Migration Process Dates
Recommissioning Public Safety DAS and Validating Non-Interference with PSERN
Properties that continue to need a public safety DAS with PSERN will need to hire a DAS vendor to support them in the following:
- Recommissioning DAS for PSERN: Upgrading or replacing DAS equipment and/or reprogramming the software configuration
- Validating Non-Interference with PSERN: Once the recommissioning has occurred, the property will need a DAS vendor to perform Uplink Validation to confirm that its public safety DAS is not causing interference with PSERN.
- Coverage Compliance Documentation: When the public safety DAS has been validated with PSERN, the property will sign a PSERN Rebroadcast Agreement and the DAS vendor will submit it, along with other technical information to the report radio coverage compliance to the Fire Marshal. (If an assessment determines that a public safety DAS is not needed with PSERN, the DAS vendor would need to submit official documentation to the Fire Marshal indicating that the property has sufficient radio coverage without public safety DAS.)
PSERN Project Coordination with DAS Vendors and Fire Marshals
The PSERN Project will be coordinating with DAS vendors and Fire Marshals throughout the migration process in the following ways:
- Informing Properties of Assigned Dates: Fire Marshals will provide the PSERN Project with property priority levels so that the Project can inform properties of their assigned migration dates
- Informing Fire Marshals of Property Impairment: The Project will inform Fire Marshals when properties in their jurisdiction have started the migration process so that they can ensure first responders are aware of any alternative measures they may need to take in the event they need to respond to an emergency while the public safety DAS are disabled.
- Scheduling Recommission Testing and Validation: DAS vendors will need to schedule when they conduct recommissioning testing and validation with the PSERN Project to ensure that there is no interference caused to the radio system.