The State Wide Network is part of the NYS Office for Technology in the Executive Chambers/ Governor’s Office. It is a part of the Division of Military and Naval Affairs. SWN Council includes a group of about 50 top level representatives of State and local government and agencies. They represent the people who are on the front lines in emergency and public safety services.
At the September Council meeting, several on-the-scene first person accounts of activities in New York on 9-11 were related. The message was loud and clear that a major improvement in public safety communications systems at every level is a requirement for the future. One comment summed it up: To quote “There will be the urge to throw all sorts of weapons and equipment at the problem of national security but the first line must be communications. Equipment is worth nothing if responders cannot talk to each other and coordinate their actions”.
- With respect to available funding: $25 million is in the Governor’s budget for the first phases of this project. A State budget must be in place in order to access those funds BUT word has come from the Governor’s Office that SWN is a top priority. This message was coupled with the caveat to build the system with the fewest number of new towers possible in order to promote faster implementation and less fighting over locational decisions.
- Tompkins County is definitely a player in the Council structure as a voting member and member of a key sub-committee on frequencies. We are also a member of a newly formed sub-committee that will be responsible for educating and informing Assembly and Senate members of the SWN program. The Council recognizes that they are not very well informed.
- In Summary: SWN is real and our opportunity to be a part of this system is real. However, local planning and project development must continue on track so that the county is poised to take advantage of this opportunity.