COLUMBUS, Ohio-The Ohio Controlling Board approved $24.8 million in state fund spending and a contract with TRW Inc. to design the first phase of a project to upgrade the state’s 50-year-old radio communications system, TRW announced.
TRW will supply the new Ohio Multi-Agency Radio Communications System, which will connect as many as 12 state agencies to one central communications network. The network will carry a real-time free flow of information between law enforcement and emergency services. MARCS, an 800 MHz digital trunked radio system, is expected to be completed by 2003.
The contract is valued at $271.9 million during the next five years, with the Ohio General Assembly approving additional funding appropriations for future phases of the project as preceding phases are completed.
