A new cutting-edge facility has transformed the way the Hamilton County Communications Center serves southwest Ohio.
Since early 2026, the 9-1-1 agency has been operating out of a new 40,000-square-foot communications center with state-of-the-art capabilities, incorporating modern technologies — including a FirstNet Compact Rapid Deployable (CRD) — into the building’s design to support the demands of 9-1-1 operations today.
A new era of 9-1-1
The Hamilton County Communications Center employs 90 staff and is a multi-jurisdictional dispatch center serving 48 municipalities outside the city of Cincinnati.
In 2025, the agency processed 616,386 calls from its previous 6,000-square-foot location. That building was constructed in the early 1970s, when technology inside emergency communications centers (ECCs) used solid-state radio electronics powered by crystals.
Today, technology is digital, and access to data is critical. Hamilton County designed its new headquarters with these considerations in mind. “Our [old] building is lacking a lot of modern things that, in the 70s, they just didn't have to think about,” said Andrew Knapp, Director of the Hamilton County Communications Center. “We must have access to data. We rely on internet connectivity to complete our mission — not just for the big events, but for every minute of every day.”
The old location hasn’t been decommissioned, Knapp added. Instead, it’s been transformed into a duplicate backup and training facility for the 9-1-1 agency. During major incidents that require additional personnel, the old facility can be used alongside the new one, maximizing the agency’s capacity for response.
Customer-owned-and-managed coverage assets for public safety
To ensure that the Hamilton County Communications Center can control its own connectivity, the agency purchased a FirstNet CRD.
CRDs are mobile cell sites that provide FirstNet connectivity via satellite. They don’t require commercial power and can be activated at a moment’s notice at the discretion of the agency.
CRDs are part of the FirstNet deployable fleet of devices that rely on satellite technology to bring network connectivity to locations where coverage is needed. Agencies can request free access to these devices in an emergency and receive them in a matter of hours.
However, deployables can also be purchased and managed by individual agencies. This enables agencies to use the deployable to connect to the network at any time without waiting on the transport delay of using a loaned CRD.
“The CRD is an absolute gamechanger for anybody in public safety,” Knapp said. “If you consider what that piece of equipment can do for you, you recognize the power of CRDs. No other cellular company is going to allow you to purchase a device and become a partner within their cell system.”
Southwest Ohio is prone to natural disasters, especially tornados, which can damage communications infrastructure. This can be catastrophic, given that the agency relies on connectivity for programs like Rapid SOS for data access and Active 911 for notifications.
“When something bad happens and we have a loss of communications, this is my insurance policy,” explained Knapp. “I can light up the CRD to bring back cellular connectivity, bring back access to data, bring back our ability to communicate with the outside world — all in a short period of time. It's just an incredible piece of equipment to have.”
Wired-in CRD connections
The agency incorporated the CRD into the new headquarters’ design. The building contractors installed connections on the exterior of the new building so the CRD can be pre-wired into their firewall, like having a wired-in generator. If there is a disruption in hardwired service, the CRD provides redundant connectivity for 9-1-1 operations.  
“My goal is to be able to restore some type of internet or data coverage to our entire dispatch center if needed,” said Knapp.
The public safety community stresses the importance of preparedness for when emergencies strike. The CRD is part of a public safety agency’s preparedness kit. It can restore communications quickly and efficiently if something were to happen to the fiber connection.
“We're always looking to be a step ahead, just in case,” he continued. “It's not going to have the same throughput as if we were on our standard fiber connection, but the plan is to power all the essential components that are necessary.”
The agency uses Next Generation 9-1-1, a digital, internet protocol (IP) system, to process 9-1-1 calls. “With Next Gen 9-1-1, if internet is restored to the dispatch center, then — with the proper routing, the proper engineering, and the proper preplanning — the CRD could restore our 9-1-1 traffic.”
Connectivity for 9-1-1 operations
The process of designing the new building and relocating the agency taught Knapp how critical it is for agencies to work with the right partners to plan and operate their facilities. “Our industry is highly specialized, and our work cannot afford to be done without careful consideration for all aspects of the operation,” he said. “Moving a 9-1-1 center without losing any calls, incidents, and responders can be done, but not without meticulous supervision.”
Engaging with the right professionals meant the new building could be designed with clever solutions, like integrating the CRD as a backup network.
“Having the CRD as part of our continuity of operations planning will go a long way toward making sure that no emergencies get lost in the cracks if there’s a large-scale disaster.”