Santa Cruz County Approves RING System Despite Cost and Access Fears

Introduction to the New Public Safety Radio System

Santa Cruz County leaders have approved plans for a new and improved local public safety radio system, despite concerns from stakeholders and community members about how local costs will be managed and the system's potential impact on public access to emergency response communications. The board unanimously approved a $28 million sales agreement with E.F. Johnson Co., a radio manufacturer, to build and support a Regional Interoperable Next Generation Radio System (RING) in Santa Cruz County.

The new system is expected to take approximately three years to launch, with local responders potentially using it as early as late 2028 or early 2029. Supervisor Justin Cummings expressed optimism about the project but acknowledged that there are still challenges to overcome before the costs affect the agencies directly.

Current Challenges with the Existing System

For over 20 years, local law enforcement, fire departments, medical services, and other emergency response agencies have relied on a patchwork radio system known as "very high frequency." However, according to a staff report, this system has deteriorated to the point of becoming one of the area’s most significant operational vulnerabilities. It has caused repeated instances of radio failure during major response incidents.

The new RING system aims to address these issues by providing infrastructure upgrades and streamlining mutual aid efforts. One of its key benefits is the ability to seamlessly integrate different radio frequencies of participating local and regional agencies into a single interoperable system. This contrasts with the current network, which is limited by decades-old technology that hinders communication as responders transition between jurisdictions.

Benefits of the New System

Jim Frawley, a former Santa Cruz fire chief turned crisis management expert, highlighted the improvements the new system will bring. He noted that the current system's portable radio signal is only viable within about 60-65% of county territory, but the next generation system will increase coverage to 95%, guaranteed. Frawley described this as "unheard of" and emphasized that the system will provide the highest service coverage locally of any system he knows of within the state of California.

Governance and Financial Structure

While the county will serve as the system operator, its founding membership is expected to include all four local cities and UC Santa Cruz. Local agencies have devised a Master Service and Governance Agreement that outlines how they'll collectively share governance, operational responsibilities, and long-term financial obligations.

Other local emergency response agencies can join the system as "subscribers," but some have raised concerns about the cost burden. In a letter to the board, the Santa Cruz County Fire Chief’s Association pointed out that annual contributions for radio services are forecasted to be 8.5% of its members’ 2030 budgets, which many find unsustainable.

Addressing Cost Concerns

Supervisor Monica Martinez expressed support for rural fire agencies, which are under significant pressure and financial stress. She urged county staff to find ways to bridge the cost gap while acknowledging the need for an improved system. Martinez emphasized that the current system is not a long-term solution and that an improved system is necessary for greater communication and reliability among emergency services.

Supervisors Felipe Hernandez and Kim De Serpa raised questions about how the public can continue to access radio communications. In 2020, the California Department of Justice instructed law enforcement agencies to encrypt radio communications to prevent sensitive information from being broadcast on public airwaves. However, newsrooms and the public have relied on radios that scan through police and first responder frequencies for immediate information about emergencies.

Frawley explained that while encryption must be included in the new system, it's up to each local agency to decide whether to activate it. Clark, a county official, committed to finding a solution that balances privacy and public access needs, noting that other jurisdictions have workarounds for this issue.

Implementation and Future Steps

Work to modernize the radio system began in 2021 and culminated with the county releasing a request for proposals in 2024. The governance structure includes an executive committee with representatives from all member agencies, along with a technical advisory group and a regional users group. County staff confirmed that other local agencies, including fire departments, can join as "members" where they can directly participate in governance rather than remaining as "subscribers."

According to the staff report, the cities of Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, and Watsonville have all approved the service and governance agreement along with UCSC. The Capitola City Council is expected to take up the proposal at its meeting Thursday.

The actual upgrade of the radio system will cost $18.5 million, with the county covering 61.6% of those costs due to its large coverage area. Support services and warranty costs add up to $9.5 million and will be covered through membership and subscription fees.