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NDIT requests operations staff for SIREN radio network; funding tied to 50-cent communications fee
Summary
NDIT said the Statewide Interoperable Radio Network (SIREN) is largely in production across major cities, has completed dozens of towers and now needs additional long-term operational positions funded by an existing 50-cent communications fee established in North Dakota Century Code.
NDIT told the Senate appropriations committee that the Statewide Interoperable Radio Network (SIREN) is in production in several cities, has completed dozens of radio-tower builds and will require ongoing operational staff to support a larger final footprint.
"We actually have over 72 complete, 10 in construction, 40 in various stages of completion and 28 remaining to build," Craig Felkley, NDIT chief technology officer, said. He said the planned network will provide 95% mobile coverage and 85% portable coverage at 95% reliability, improve in-building coverage through the 800 MHz band, and support modern features including encryption and over-the-air rekeying.
Felkley asked the committee for funding and five positions to support operations as the tower footprint grows; NDIT expects to triple the number of towers from about 45 to approximately 140 when the program is complete. He said operational costs and positions for SIREN are to be funded through a 50-cent fee on communications services, established in North Dakota Century Code 37-17.3 and informed by revenue under NDCC 57-40.6.
The agency said it now manages radio management for more than 4,000 radios and reported more than 640,000 push-to-talk sessions have occurred on the network. NDIT said it will continue mixing vendor-contracted work with internal staff oversight and stated that positions requested align with original studies and earlier operational projections.
Ending: NDIT said the long-term operations tail for SIREN will be funded from the communications fee and asked lawmakers to consider the positions and ongoing funding in budget deliberations; the hearing produced no committee vote.
