STATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
[Authorized: NDCC Chapter 54-23.2]
The state radio broadcasting system was established in 1951 (S. L. 1951, Ch. 309) and was governed by the Board of Administration. The Board employed staff to be responsible for carrying out the duties required of the State Radio Broadcasting System. Control of the State Radio Broadcasting System passed to the Director of Institutions in 1969 (S. L. 1969, Ch. 440) and it became known as the State Radio Communications Office. The Director of Institutions appointed its director. In 1991 the office of the Director of Institutions was dissolved and the State Radio Communications office became the State Radio Communication Division. It was placed under the supervision the Office of Management and Budget where it stayed until 2003 when it consolidated with the Division of Emergency Management.
In 2003, the Division of Emergency Management and State Radio Communications were
combined to establish an integrated state operations center, and in 2005 the State Legislature
created the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, which included a division of
Homeland Security and the State Radio Communications. The Legislature authorized the Adjutant
General to create, as needed, one or more advisory committees to the Department of Emergency
Services (S. L. 2005, Ch. 16) and in 2007 the Adjutant General was named the director of the
Department of Emergency Services (S. L. 2007, Ch. 308). The Century Code [54-23.2] initially written for the State Radio Broadcasting System was repealed effective August 1, 2009 (S. L. 2009,
Ch. 309).
The original purpose of the State Radio Broadcasting System was to provide state and political subdivisions with an efficient and rapid method of exchanging information statewide and throughout the United States. Initially it dispatched federal, state, and local emergency resources though the use of a network of radio stations. This communications network transmitted aid and facilitated law enforcement activities, disseminated weather information, assisted in making emergency medical care available to state residents, and coordinated disaster control during adverse weather or military emergencies on a 24-hour basis. In addition, the agency maintained a statewide file system to assist law enforcement in the recovery of lost or runaway children and other missing persons. Over the years the State Radio Communications services have stayed current with technology and the needs of citizens and it has continued to be accessible to all North Dakotans. It is headquartered at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck.
CHRONOLOGY
1951 The State Radio Broadcasting System was established 1951 (S. L. 1951, Ch. 309).
1969 Control of the State Radio Broadcasting System passed to the Director of Institutions (S. L. 1969, Ch. 440).
1987 The State Radio Communications office provided staff services for the newly created Emergency Services Communication System Advisory Committee in order to establish standards and bring uniformity to the 911 telephone systems programs (S. L. 1987, Ch. 720).
1989 The State Radio Communications office remained under the management and control of the Director of Institutions. The Governor was to develop and submit for the next Legislative Assembly a plan to transfer powers and duties of the dissolved office of the Director of Institutions to other state agencies and departments (S. L. 1989, Ch. 239).
1991 The State Radio Communications office was transferred to the Office of Management and Budget where it became the Division of State Radio Communications.
2003 The Division of Emergency Management consolidated with State Radio Communications Division.
2005 The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services was created by the State Legislature to replace the division of State Radio Communications. The Adjutant General was authorized to set up, as needed, one or more advisory committees for emergency services (S. L. 2005, Ch. 16).
2007 The Adjutant General was named the director of the Department of Emergency Services
(S. L. 2007, Ch. 308).
2009 The Century Code [54-23.2] for the state radio broadcasting system was repealed effective August 1, 2009 (S. L. 2009, Ch. 309).
SERIES
30431 Subject Files.
30432 General Files.
30677 Operations Manual.
30678 Plans and Specifications for the State Radio System.
30676 Radio Traffic Statistical Reports.
30675 General Ledger.
30679 Photographs.
32182 Records.
SOURCES
Gray, David P., Guide to North Dakota State Archives, 1985.
North Dakota Century Code.
North Dakota Secretary of State Blue Book.
North Dakota State Legislature Session Laws.
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