Hunterdon County advances technology, cybersecurity and emergency communications upgrades

August 22, 2026 - 18:04

Hunterdon County officials confirmed on August 18 that a broad set of infrastructure projects is now in motion, covering everything from internal cybersecurity defenses to the way emergency responders communicate in the field. The announcement came during the regular Board of Commissioners meeting, where administrators laid out a timeline for the upgrades and explained how the work will be phased over the coming months.

The centerpiece of the plan is a full overhaul of the county's radio network, which currently relies on aging equipment that can suffer from dead zones and interference. The new system is designed to give police, fire, and EMS units clearer, more reliable channels, especially in the hilly and rural parts of the county where signal strength has been a recurring problem. Officials say the upgrade will also allow different agencies to talk to each other directly during multi-jurisdictional incidents, something that has been a challenge in the past.

On the digital side, the county is tightening its cybersecurity posture. That means new firewalls, more rigorous access controls, and regular penetration testing to spot weaknesses before they become breaches. The county has also started moving more of its resident-facing services online, including permit applications and property record requests, with a goal of reducing in-person visits to county offices.

Funding for the projects comes from a mix of federal grants and the county's capital budget. No tax increase is tied to the work, according to the board. The radio system is expected to be fully operational by late next year, while the cybersecurity and digital service upgrades will roll out in stages over the next six to nine months.