By RUSS OLIVO

WOONSOCKET — Thanks to the efforts of U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI), the city has obtained $188,000 in federal funds that will enable the police and fire departments to replace antiquated emergency communications cables with a new wireless system.

Fire Chief Kenneth Finlay said the money will be used to retire copper communications lines that date back to 1924. Although some newer lines are strung on utility poles, many are encased in buried wooden conduits that have been deteriorating over time, causing sporadic interruptions in inter-department communications.
While the corrosion-prone underground lines were blamed for at least one “catastrophic failure” about 14 months ago, when communications to two of the department’s satellite stations were cut off, the aboveground lines are also vulnerable, Finlay said. Communications breakdowns heighten the risk of increased property damage and loss of life during a fire because they can increase the amount of time it takes firefighters to respond, the chief added.
“A lack of communications is always dangerous,” said the chief. “Right now if a pole comes down in any accident, we’re out of business.”
Finlay spoke during a press conference outside the Cumberland Street headquarters of the Fire Department Tuesday, where he joined Kennedy and Mayor Susan D. Menard in announcing the receipt of the funds.
The mayor also lauded Kennedy as a reliable partner in helping obtain myriad legislative grants to support a wide range of civic needs over the years.
 “In any area of government, I have always been able to call Congressman Kennedy and he’s always come through,” the mayor said.
The seven-term congressman said he obtained the funds by using his clout as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which has broad powers to allocate discretionary funding to constituents. Kennedy said he is also on the panel’s Justice Subcommittee, which gives him the authority to steer additional funding into even more specialized areas that include public safety.
“You have to be on the committee first,” said Kennedy, “but then you have to be on the subcommittee to get even more dollars.”
Ultimately, said the congressman, the funding is designed to provide the police and fire departments with infrastructure improvements that will eliminate dangerous interruptions in communications and “save lives.”
“That’s where all this federal aid, wherever we can get it, makes an enormous difference,” he said.
The city will tie in nine buildings in all to the new system, the headquarters of the fire department, five satellite stations, City Hall, the River Street public works depot and the Police Department, according to officials.
Finlay said the Fire Department was never able to figure out what caused the satellite stations on North Main and Providence streets to fall into a communications void just over two years ago. But he said it is believed that the earth collapsed over buried copper cable that provides communications service to the two stations, severing the lines.
The fire department is leasing an electronic “patch” from Cox Communications to compensate for the malfunction until permanent repairs can be made with the new wireless, microwave-based system, the chief said. In addition carrying all the department’s internal emergency communications, the new system will be used as a conduit for all of its telephone communications and data processing.