Bureau of Network Engineering and Data Infrastructure

Communication towers play a vital role in public safety. An engineer and other technical staff help plan, design, procure and manage tower site improvement projects across the tower network to repair or replace aging infrastructure. The unit also works with federal, state and local agencies to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective use of limited radio frequency resources.

BNEDI's fleet installation technicians install specialized equipment in public safety vehicles for the Wisconsin State Patrol. Technicians research, design, test, install and maintain technologies used in fleet vehicles such as two-way radios, repeaters, computer equipment, video cameras, speed detection, and emergency lights and sirens. The team upgrades 80-100 law enforcement vehicles each year including cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles and motorcycles.

Fleet Installation Technicians:

• Transform vehicles into public safety vehicles for the Wisconsin State Patrol.
  • This requires the removal, installation, and replacement of body panels, seats and interior trim, installing custom configured wiring harnesses and quick connects for all public safety equipment throughout the vehicle.
  • The patrol cars and other vehicles are used by the Wisconsin State Patrol for law enforcement activities, including specialized areas such as the K9, Technical Reconstruction and Dignitary Protection units.
  • Use a variety of tools and techniques, the Electronics Technician wires and installs electrical harnesses for radio consoles, electronic sirens and lights, mobile data computer docking stations, and digital P25 trunked VHF two-way radios.
• Each vehicle is outfitted with a variety of specialized public safety-related equipment.
• Research, design, test and install new technologies used in fleet vehicles such as radios, video cameras, speed detection, prisoner containment, emergency lights and sirens.
• Install and maintain wireless communications and emergency warning equipment for 80-100 public safety vehicles each year including cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles, motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATVs and boats.
• Perform basic maintenance of public safety equipment including testing and repairing light bars and sirens and soldering and testing electronic wiring and connections.

Statewide law enforcement communication requires reliable and secure transport and backup systems. Network information systems specialists oversee multiple complex IP data networks and their corresponding statewide infrastructure, including microwave radio and proprietary fiber optics. Some of the critical services that use this complex information network include the Wisconsin Interoperable System for Communications (WISCOM) and a statewide private Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone system.

Field service technicians work throughout Wisconsin to operate and maintain the statewide network consisting of microwave radio and data transport over fiber. They also manage two-way radio systems, including State Patrol legacy systems, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forestry and WISCOM. WISCOM supports approximately 50,000 users, including over 800 interoperable user agencies and over 300 daily use agencies.

The technicians also maintain and repair State Patrol’s fleet radio equipment, siren and emergency lighting systems along with mobile video systems. The unit assists other state agencies as needed, including maintenance of the DNR two-way radio system and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) system.

The team is responsible for service at tower sites, dispatch centers and Safety and Weight Enforcement Facilities throughout Wisconsin.