RING Project

For more than 20 years, Santa Cruz County’s public safety agencies have relied on a patchwork Very High Frequency (VHF) radio system that has reached the limits of its operational life. Coverage is inconsistent, maintenance is difficult, and the system lacks redundancy and interoperability. Agencies have repeatedly identified radio failure during major incidents as one of the region’s most significant operational vulnerabilities. When first responders cannot communicate reliably, it can delay evacuations, slow emergency response and make it harder to coordinate lifesaving operations during disasters and other emergencies.

2021-2023

Work to modernize the region’s public safety radio communications system began in early 2021, when the County, at the request of the Sheriff and local independent fire agencies, initiated a comprehensive needs assessment of the existing VHF radio infrastructure. That assessment identified significant reliability challenges, coverage limitations, and technical constraints that made continued investment in the legacy system impractical.

Building on those findings, the County and regional public safety agencies spent 2022 and 2023 developing the operational requirements and technical specifications for a new interoperable radio network. This effort, supported by engineering consultants, included extensive coverage modeling, site evaluations, and system architecture development to ensure that the new system could support modern communications standards and the operational needs of all partner agencies.

2024

In early March 2024, the County released a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking competitive bids to design and construct a next-generation Project 25 (P25) regional radio system. Concurrently, the County and its primary partners in the cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Capitola, and Scotts Valley and the University of California, Santa Cruz began developing a regional governance framework to guide long-term system management and cost-sharing.

By September 2024, four qualified proposals had been received and evaluated through a multi-agency process.

2025

Following detailed technical review, interviews, and pricing analysis, E.F. Johnson Company was identified as the preferred vendor in June 2025. Negotiations on the final scope of work, contract structure, warranties, and long-term support services were completed in August 2025.

During this same period, the County and its primary partners finalized the RING Radio System Master Service and Governance Agreement, including a cost allocation model for supporting ongoing system operations and future capital needs. This work concluded in early November 2025 and established the governance and financial framework necessary to implement and sustain the regional system.

After several years of regional planning and a competitive procurement process initiated through RFP #23P-003, E.F. Johnson Company (JVCKenwood) was selected to build the Regional Interoperable Next Generation (RING) Radio System based on performance, engineering design, lifecycle value, and alignment with operational needs.

2026

Following approval from Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, the RING project formally kicked off in February 2026.

The RING Radio System replaces the County's aging radio network with a modern, secure communications system designed specifically for public safety. Built across 17 strategic sites, the system will improve coverage, strengthen reliability and allow first responders from different agencies to communicate seamlessly during emergencies.

Countywide coverage — including previously unreachable mountainous terrain.

Seamless interoperability across fire, law enforcement, EMS & emergency management.

CA-DOJ compliant encryption securing all sensitive communications.

State & federal interoperability for large-scale disaster response.

Decades of service life from a single unified capital investment.

The RING Radio System is fundamentally a community safety investment. Every dollar spent directly strengthens the ability of first responders to protect lives and property across Santa Cruz County.

The RING system is engineered for Santa Cruz County’s unique geography — from beachfront urban areas to dense redwood forests and steep mountain terrain. Coverage modeling across 17 sites delivers a guaranteed 95% countywide commitment.

Construction

The Project deployment is structured in two major phases over an estimated 36-month period, beginning with the dispatch consoles and microwave backhaul, followed by the construction of the countywide radio infrastructure. This sequencing ensures that critical communications pathways, network redundancy, and 911 dispatch capabilities are fully stabilized before the larger system cutover.

Source: EFJohnson | JVCKenwood, 2026

Source: EFJohnson | JVCKenwood, 2026

Public safety communications are a shared responsibility. Disasters do not respect jurisdictional boundaries, and effective response depends on interoperable communications among all levels of government.

RING Member Agencies include:

• County of Santa Cruz
• City of Santa Cruz
• City of Watsonville
• City of Capitola
• City of Scotts Valley
• University of California, Santa Cruz