Many of the more rural agencies reported wireless coverage issues. This was expected, as the need for emergency service organizations and their coverage requirements typically extend beyond the most populated areas in which commercial wireless providers position their coverage zones.
Our team regularly functions in areas where traditional 2-way wireless devices do not work
Blair Miller, Acting President
Northern Virginia Search & Rescue Dogs.

Need to use in more diverse areas of the county.
Karl Munninger, Director of Administrative Services
Clark County Health District

Smaller agencies found that the system significantly increased the time in which they can notify their staff. Using traditional cellular phones and making a few phone calls was preferred with smaller field forces. Several smaller agencies appeared to make extensive use of Nextel’s Direct Connect functionality such as the Getzville Fire Company. (This service by Nextel is similar to the functionality of two-way radios, but works over a commercial wireless data network).
We have been using Nextel phones to communicate with many officers within our department. The "Direct Connect" feature has proved to be very reliable for notifying our personnel. Also, several other neighboring fire departments have purchased these phones. We have had tremendous success using these devices to contact them as well. The Nextel "Direct Connect" system has given us a greater flexibility and also provides us with instant communication
Irv Isenberg, Assistant Chief
Getzville Fire Company

The new wireless communication model had several usage implications beyond what we had expected. First, there is now the ability for any layer of emergency services to track emergency messages sent to every individual in the field; department-by-department. For example, if a message was originally initiated by a national law enforcement agency, the new system would enable that agency to login in, and centrally monitor and track messages (and message responses) related to a potential or unfolding disaster down to the individual in any and every department.