Fixing LMPD's Radio Blues

It's my understanding that MetroSafe will be taking the 700 frequencies now being used by the state. They are waiting for the state to move the freqs, which takes money - sort of a domino effect.

What confuses me is:

1) when they bought the existing bridge, I was told it was going to be SO EASY to implement - but apparently that isn't the case? What exactly does it take to implement the bridge? How often is it practiced? I'm told that the main problem was that the Suburban dispatch folks didn't tell the Urban dispatch folks to tell the Urban officers to switch to the bridged frequency - how is that an equipment problem? That's a people problem. (Not blaming anyone - people are people, and it sounds like they rarely practice it. You have to practice these things for it to kick in during the actual need.)

2) since the whole point of getting the 700s was to get OFF the existing frequencies - since the feds want those freqs for other purposes - how will this bridge be able to be used in the future? Or are they planning to keep the old frequencies? And if they are keeping the old freqs as well, will that add yet ANOTHER piece of equipment to the front of the cars - another radio - on top of what is already there? If the other PSAPS in the county stay on their existing freqs (Shively, J-town, county fire, etc.) - it may prove useful for bridging to them, however, it will have to be practiced.