Harris Corporation Awarded $15 Million Contract to Modernize Dane County, Wisconsin Public Safety Communication System

MELBOURNE, Fla. and BOSTON, March 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Highlights:

• Harris P25IP solution to provide first responders from dozens of communities and agencies with a flexible and reliable communications network
• Solution provides highly reliable coverage benefitting first responders serving more than 490,000 residents
• Customized system designed specifically to meet needs of the City of Madison

Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS), an international communications and information technology company, has signed a $15 million contract with Dane County, Wisconsin to upgrade the county's public safety communication system with a Harris P25IP (Project 25 to the power of Internet Protocol) solution.  The standards-based, digital system will improve interoperable communications, increase system capacity and enhance network reliability for the public safety users throughout Dane County, which is home to more than 490,000 residents and the City of Madison, the state capital.

"Our legacy public safety communication system was not designed to the new federal standards, as well as the modern operation needs of the County, and we determined that the Harris P25IP solution meets the communications requirements of our public safety personnel," said Scott McDonell, County Board Chairperson, Dane County, Wisconsin.  "The Harris solution allows us to gracefully migrate our existing systems to a P25IP radio system while maintaining a high level of emergency response capabilities."  

The Harris P25IP system includes a VIDA® (Voice, Interoperability, Data and Access) network, which provides network-level interoperable communications among public safety agencies.  The Dane County system will consist of a P25IP trunked VHF network featuring ten channels capable of supporting more than 3,200 radios.  The contract includes both Harris P5400 portable and M7300 mobile radios that operate on the VHF, UHF, and 700/800 MHz frequency bands.

"Dane County is a densely populated region where trusted, interoperable communications needs are critical for day-to-day operations of firefighters, police and public works users in the county," said Steve Marschilok, president, Harris Public Safety and Professional Communications.   "Dane County joins a growing list of states, counties and municipalities across the nation that has selected Harris P25IP solutions to meet their modern wireless and mission critical communications requirements."  

The Harris VIDA network platform is a unified IP-based voice and data communication system based on APCO P25 industry standards.  VIDA delivers full IP management features, including interoperability without intervention of console operators, IP consoles, and other benefits inherent in open IP architecture systems.  The new P25 system complies with both the current P25 Phase 1 standard and the emerging P25 Phase 2 industry standard.

In public safety and professional communications, Harris is a leading supplier of assured communications® systems and equipment for public safety, federal, utility, commercial and transportation markets — with products ranging from the most advanced IP voice and data networks, to industry leading multiband, multimode radios, to public safety-grade broadband video and data solutions.  Harris has more than 80 years of experience in public safety and professional communications and supports over 500 systems around the world.

About Harris Corporation

Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries.  Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has approximately $5 billion of annual revenue and more than 16,000 employees — including nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists.  Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and services.  Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at www.harris.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions.  Such statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Statements about the expected value of the program to Harris are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties.  Other factors that may impact the company's results and forward-looking statement may be disclosed in the company's filings with the SEC.  Harris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Harris Corporation