Lawmakers want to avoid a repeat of the state radio system failure

(Harrisburg) — State lawmakers are moving to grant themselves more oversight with the radio system that keeps first responders connected in the field.

The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee approved a bill to allow for regular legislative audits of the statewide radio network employed by State Police and others in the field.

This comes after what many see as the billion-dollar failure of the previous network under a 1996 deal with Harris Corporation.

In 2016, the state signed a contract with Motorola Solutions and committee chair Randy Vulakovich says things finally seem to be on track.

“I can tell you so far I’ve been pretty impressed on how the state police have been conducting themselves in the oversight that their putting on the system,.. and now we need to have our oversight on our part of it,” Vulakovich said.

The state’s Auditor General is also launching an audit of the new contract under the banner of not repeating past mistakes.