Look Who it Was Random video

FCC trying to figure out who's disrupting emergency radio communication in Gallatin County

438 views · Published 18 December 2018 · 1:49 · Indexed 30 October 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

Watch on YouTube

WARSAW, Ky. (WKRC) - Someone in the Gallatin County area is using an unauthorized radio transceiver that is causing problems for the county dispatch.

The Federal Communication Commission is helping the county try to figure out who is behind it and potentially help bring charges against them.

Gallatin County dispatch handles every agency in the county. Dispatchers started noticing a problem around Nov. 15. There was an echo at the end of certain transmissions lasting anywhere from a few seconds to 30 seconds. 

While the echo is transmitted, no one else can talk. That means during an emergency, it could add on 20 to 30 seconds for each radio call between a sheriff's deputy and dispatch. Fortunately, the echo is not happening on every call.

"At this point, there have not been any instances where it has created a problem that has caused any kind of issue for public safety, but if it continues, it could," said Ryan Bailey, the systems administrator and KIFC liaison officer for the Gallatin County Public Safety Communications Center.

Initially, the county thought it was county equipment creating the issue, but after investigating, it was determined someone else was behind the interference.

Bailey said that means it's either someone intentionally doing it to interfere with the county's signals, or it's someone who doesn't know what they're doing and the issues they're causing.

"If you're doing this and you know you're doing it, we are moving forward, and if you get caught, there could be legal consequences, but if you stop, we're good," Bailey said.

If you have any information, please call 859-567-7021.

More from this channel