Iowa emergency response communications system signed into law

ADEL - The state of Iowa is developing a radio communication system that will enable law enforcement agencies and emergency responders to communicate with each other during emergencies, thanks to a bill signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Terry Branstad.

The interoperable communications system will cost $58 million to build out over multiple years, according to state Public Safety Director Roxann Ryan. State funding initially will come from a surcharge on mobile phones.

The impetus for such communications systems came in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City, where police, firefighters and emergency responders could not communicate with each other.

Since then, states have worked to establish cross-agency radio communications systems. Ryan said Iowa is one of the last states to establish a system.

'During tornadoes and natural disasters, a lot of times these radios are the only means of communication that work,” Ryan said. 'All of the first responders are able to talk to each other during these natural disasters.”

Dallas County will be the first to take advantage of the new communications system, putting four western Des Moines suburbs on the network. Branstad said the goal is for agencies across the state to use the network.

'This is another step toward our goal of being a fully interoperable state,” Branstad said Wednesday as he signed the bill at the Dallas County Sheriff's Office with local law enforcement and emergency response personnel looking on. 'When emergencies happen and Iowans call 911, they deserve to have first responders that can communicate with each other within their radio system.”

Of the total $58 million price tag, $40 million will go toward building infrastructure, including radio towers, hardware and software.

'We think it's going to be an efficient and cost-effective system and something that will save lives and make it easier for us to respond when we have natural disasters and emergencies,” Branstad said.