The technical staff is responsible for installation and maintenance of equipment and the integrity of the county's multi-million dollar communications system. The engineers and technicians are kept busy servicing nearly 7000 pieces of equipment ranging from small pocket pagers to large repeaters, hand-held, mobile and base station radios, computer mainframe dispatch consoles, microwave radio system, and numerous other types of electronic equipment.

Communications staff have also designed, constructed, installed and maintain an office alarm system in both the Superior and Municipal courts in Bakersfield. Our tracked 'Snow Cat' is used during winter to service mountain top repeater facilities in remote areas throughout the County. It is not unusual for the Sheriff's Department to request the use of the snow cat and a driver to assist in search and rescue operations.

Not content with just fixing equipment, our engineers and technicians are experts in designing alarms, test equipment and other complex electronic systems. One of our most publicized accomplishments is the Kern River Call Box System. Original price estimates were as high as one to two million dollars, yet the Communications Division completed the project with less than $30,500! Motorola Communications & Electronics Inc., a multi-national corporation, was so impressed, they made a marketing video featuring Kern County.

System engineering, planning and design for county telecommunications systems and modifications to equipment as needed.

Apply for and maintain FCC licenses; allocate frequencies; coordinate violation notices; and direct compliance with the application of FCC Rules and Regulations.

Establish technical performance standards.

Conduct feasibility studies for telephone and radio.

Assist with contract negotiations and monitoring of all county telecommunications consultant contracts, installations, maintenance contracts and service contracts.