County approves $78,000 supplemental for radio encryption upgrades after ECA warning

The Elbert County Board of Commissioners approved a $78,000 supplemental appropriation to help the Elbert County Communications Authority (ECA) pay for required radio encryption updates for county radios.

Jim White, chair of the Elbert County Communications Authority, told the board that "the encryption method that we're currently using in all of our law enforcement and fire radios has been compromised. It's no longer viable to continue to use that," and that partners in neighboring counties have set a conversion deadline. White said the total countywide cost is uncertain but estimated the full program at current prices to be about $283,000, with roughly $196,000 for law enforcement radios and about $90,000 for fire radios.

White described logistical challenges: multiple radio models and firmware versions require different upgrade steps, some upgrades arrive as keyed USB devices, and others require adding an internal encryption module to portable radios. He said the combined effort could take months; he and vendors expect at least six months, with an aim to complete work by year-end but warned that vendors may cut off support after July 1.

White said ECA applied for Homeland Security grant funds with Douglas County, but grant awards would not be available until October and state/federal funding availability is uncertain. Commissioner McDaniel described the situation as urgent and said the county had been left with limited options by the vendors' timelines. The board voted to approve the requested $78,000 supplemental appropriation for the communications authority's upgrades.