Moore County Emergency Services are now officially connected to the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN). The network connects all of Tennessee’s governmental agencies, enabling direct communications amongst all agencies in the state. Federal, state, and local agencies can now communicate directly on the same platform. Not only does it provide interagency communication, but it also enhances coverage and range by leaps and bounds.

Ambulances in the field can communicate directly with Vanderbilt Harton in Tullahoma, as well as with hospitals in Murfreesboro and Nashville. They can communicate directly with Life Flight as well. Deputies can communicate directly with THP, TWRA, and even the TBI. EMS, sheriff’s deputies, and the Fire Department can communicate directly with any neighboring agencies on the TACN system. Direct, clear communication shaves minutes off of response times, assistance times, and treatment times. Minutes save lives.

While there are a few trouble spots left in Moore County where communication is difficult due to the topography, the majority of those spots have disappeared. The quality of communications in those areas is vastly improved. Moore County Public Safety Director Jason Deal put it succinctly by saying, “It is like comparing an old flip phone to an iPhone 17.” Big difference indeed.

The TACN system is overseen and managed by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS). Governor Phil Bredesen first began studies on the system, and the implementation was heavily supported and implemented by Governor Bill Lee. The system now has 73,000 users and 320 towers currently in the state.

In the beginning, the state charged a user fee that was prohibitive for Moore County and other smaller, more rural counties for its use. Legislature then abolished that fee, making it possible for those counties to join the system.

The local project came to fruition after three years of planning and execution. Switching to the TACN system was no small feat. The project involved putting up a tower, entirely changing out the consoles at the communications center, and changing all of the radios for the EMS system, the Sheriff’s Offi ce, and the Volunteer Fire Department, and Jack Daniel’s Fire Department. The two million dollar price tag was shared by Jack Daniel’s and the 911 Board, without using a single dollar of taxpayer funds. TACN furnished some of the equipment as well.

Earlier this month Moore County’s connection to the network was celebrated at a special ribbon cutting at the Jack Daniel’s Visitor Center. Dignitaries attending from TDOSHS were Commissioner Jeff Long, Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff Les Dolente, Executive Officer Major Andrew Goolsby, TACN Director Jeff Gray, and TACN Deputy Director of Field Operations Check Rushing. Local dignitaries included Mayor Sloan Stewart, 911 Board Chair Larry Hatfield, Moore County Public Safety Director Jason Deal, Sheriff Tyler Hatfield, and Jack Daniel’s Senior Vice President and General Manager Melvin Keebler. Most spoke to attendees about the advantages of the system.

Commissioner Long praised all parties involved in the project for their hard work and cooperative efforts in getting the system up and running. He recognized the Motorola crew for trimming a proposed build out timeline from eight years down to three years, with a promise not to raise prices during the build out. To illustrate the importance of the TACN system in an emergency or disaster situation Long referred to the ice storm in Nashville earlier this year. Though thousands were without power for days, the TACN communications system never once went down.

There was also a celebration held a few days later at the Moore County communications building for 911 board members, Fire Department Captain Jerry Dickey, and dispatchers who were not able to attend the earlier celebration. Public Safety Director Jason Deal and Sheriff Hatfield attended. TACN Director Jeff Gray, TACN Network and Security Operations Manager Christine Massenill, and Motorola representative Sean Eriksen attended this event as well.

911 Board Chair Larry Hatfield spoke, saying “We are very, very satisfied with the way things have gone. We are so much further ahead of where we were. It’s a blessing.” Sheriff Hatfield called the system a game changer, “The clarity is like daylight and dark.” He went on to describe the communications with Motlow College, Tullahoma, Manchester, and Coffee County as difficult prior to TACN, and now very clear.

TACN Director Jeff Gray encouraged the group to contact their legislators with actual stories about how the TACN system has made a difference in operations, saying that the legislature needs to hear what the system means to the agencies. Sheriff Hatfield shared that while on a prisoner transport to Pensacola, Florida, the deputy decided to try contact Moore County dispatch, and was able to make contact.

The TACN can and will make a lifesaving difference for Moore County citizens. The county is fortunate not only to have the system in place, but to have leaders who saw and appreciated the difference it would make, and therefore made it happen.