A Unified Communications Backbone
The Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) is more than just a network; it's the critical infrastructure that connects and protects Minnesota's first responders and citizens. It ensures seamless, real-time communication across every county, every day.
Active Radios
Counties Covered
Tower Sites
System Availability
A History of Investment: Building the Backbone
ARMER is the result of a multi-decade, >$500M public investment, creating a critical state asset with an estimated replacement value now exceeding $800 million. This strategic commitment has built a nationally recognized model for public safety communications.
1995-2002: The Metro Foundation
Phase 1 establishes the core system in the Twin Cities metro area.
$97.35M Invested
2007: Statewide Expansion
Legislature authorizes revenue bonds to build the ARMER backbone in the remaining 55 counties.
$186M in Bonds
2021: Debt Retired
Original construction bonds are fully paid off, freeing up capacity in the 911 fund for future needs like the SUA.
2021-2025: System Modernization
State secures the 5-year System Upgrade Agreement (SUA) to proactively manage the system's lifecycle.
$31.7M Agreement
2024-2026: Subscriber Support
A grant program is established to assist local, tribal, and state agencies with purchasing new ARMER-compatible radios.
$4M in Grants
Universal Adoption: A Truly Statewide Network
ARMER's success is defined by its near-universal adoption. It has become the common platform connecting virtually every responder in Minnesota, breaking down historical barriers to communication.
Participation Rate by Agency Type
Proven in Crisis: The I-35W Bridge Collapse
On August 1, 2007, ARMER faced its ultimate test. As commercial networks failed, ARMER performed flawlessly, enabling a coordinated response that saved lives and knitted responders "together into one functional unit."
System Performance in the First Hour
The Value of Managed Support
The System Upgrade Agreement provides predictable costs and prevents expensive, reactive repairs. Analysis of the 2021-2025 SUA shows it is a fiscally responsible strategy that delivers significant savings.
Estimated State Savings by Choosing SUA:
...compared to a reactive "time and materials" approach over 5 years.
The Slippery Slope of Obsolescence
"Parking the system" is not a single event; it's the start of a rapid, predictable decline in reliability and security. This timeline shows the escalating consequences of forgoing the SUA.
2026-2028: Standard Support
- Current SUA ends Dec 31, 2025.
- GEN1 GTR component support ends Jan 1, 2026.
- MN becomes responsible for all GEN1 replacement parts.
- Bundled service discounts are lost.
2028-2031: Extended Support
- Standard support ends Aug 2028.
- System can no longer be expanded.
- All software defect repair ends.
- Cybersecurity & antivirus services end.
2032 & Beyond: End of Life
- Extended support ends Aug 2031.
- Prime Site and technical support ends.
- MCC7500 Dispatch Console support ends.
- The system becomes functionally obsolete and insecure.
The High Cost of Delay: Parking the System
Forgoing the SUA is not a cost-saving measure; it's a deferral of much higher costs. A neglected system becomes exponentially more expensive to fix, and a full replacement would require a catastrophic, unbudgeted appropriation.
Delaying renewal introduces premium costs for obsolete parts, emergency labor, and the need to catch up on multiple missed upgrade cycles, erasing any perceived short-term savings.
The 2025 Strategic Decision
Minnesota faces a critical choice: renew the System Upgrade Agreement (SUA) to ensure ARMER's future, or "park the system" and accept the immense risks of obsolescence.
What the SUA Delivers: 2021-2025
The SUA is not just a maintenance contract; it's a strategic investment in technology, security, and reliability. The current $31.7M agreement provides tangible goods and services.
This agreement also included delivery of 1,350 Juniper routers, 900 computers, and over 70 server/switch appliances.
Decision Matrix: Renew vs. Park
✅ Renew SUA
- Predictable, managed costs
- Maintains 99.9% uptime
- Proactive cybersecurity
- Maximum responder & public safety
- Protects >$800M state asset
❌ "Park the System"
- Unpredictable, high-cost repairs
- Degrading reliability & system failure
- Extreme cybersecurity vulnerability
- Compromised safety for all
- Jeopardizes entire state investment
The Path Forward: A Clear Recommendation
The financial, operational, and public safety risks of "parking the system" are unacceptable. The evidence overwhelmingly supports one path to protect our citizens, first responders, and our state's substantial investment.
Proceed with negotiating the 2026-2030 System Upgrade Agreement.