AFC, APCO’s frequency coordination department, is pleased to introduce its network of dedicated local advisor volunteers. APCO’s advisors are responsible for frequency coordination in their home state and we would like to bring awareness and recognition to the dedication they exhibit on a daily basis. Please feel free to reach out to our local advisors with any questions dealing with FCC Part 90 licensing and frequency coordination.

Paul M. Mayer retired in 2014 after more than 46 years of service to the citizens of Ohio. Paul began his state service on April 29, 1968, as a communications officer at the Berea District 10 Headquarters (Ohio Turnpike) of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He was transferred to the Massillon District 3 Headquarters where he continued to learn his craft. In 1980, he was promoted to radio technician 3 and sent back to Berea as the district chief technician where he primarily supervised highway patrol telecommunications operations across the 241-mile-long Ohio Turnpike and secondarily served as the Highway Patrol’s telecommunications liaison with the public safety community in northeastern Ohio.

He also served as one of the Division’s three representatives on the design team for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s new FEMA compliant Emergency Operations Center and Joint Dispatch Facility which would also house the Highway Patrol’s District 6 Headquarters and Communications Center, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources statewide Communications Center and a Department of Transportation communications and messaging operation. Upon its completion it became a model for other states in their research and planning of similar facilities.

After serving the Highway Patrol for more than 28 years, he retired in 1996 and immediately started working for the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, to whom responsibility for the further development and roll-out of MARCS had been transferred.

Paul gained the positions of Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission’s mandated Region 33 (Ohio) 700 MHz and 800 MHz Planning Committees and in 2004 was appointed Primary Ohio Public Safety Radio Frequency Advisor by APCO after serving as Alternate Advisor for many years. A member of APCO since 1974, Paul was awarded “Life Member” status in 2012.

He has been married to his wife, Sharon since 1972 and have a son Jeffrey, a Paramedic in Memphis, Tennessee and daughter Jennifer, a teacher with Columbus, Ohio public schools and four grand-children.  He is also proud that eight younger relatives have followed his footsteps and are currently working in the public safety/service field.