The county's new 911 communications system is scheduled to begin operation on Oct. 28.

At their Wednesday meeting, county commissioners approved an increase in bandwidth and the expenditure of $17,121 to maintain the current system after the county emergency services department switches over to the new system next month.

Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, said the expense will allow the county to use the current system until the new system is operational, and ensure that a backup system is in place in the new system's initial phase.

She said first responders will use both the new and old systems until all installations are complete and all radios operational, which should occur shortly after the new system goes live.

Commissioners have approved expenditures and actions for the new 911 system almost monthly for a year as emergency services director Steve Bicehouse has worked on switching over to the new system.

A 2012 law mandates that the Federal Communications Commission take away the T-band from emergency services in many areas nationally by 2022.

The cost of the new system in the county is almost $10 million. Of that amount, $3 million will pay for the new radios carried by responders and at fire and police stations.

The county paid 75 percent of the radio cost, with fire departments, municipalities, school districts that employ police departments, private emergency agencies such as ambulance companies and other users paying 25 percent, Rob McLafferty, county 911 coordinator, said.