South Dakota Withholds 911 Upgrade Money After Problems

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota board is withholding $259,000 from a Maryland vendor after problems with a new 911 system.

South Dakota's 911 Coordination Board is withholding payment of a monthly invoice to TeleCommunication Systems Inc., which didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Pennington County 911 upgraded to new software in May ahead of an eventual statewide rollout.

Coordination Board Chairman Ted Rufledt Jr. says 911 calls have functioned properly, but some software features aren't working and fixes have been delayed. He says the board wants the issues resolved in Pennington County before the system is installed at other South Dakota call centers in the coming months.

Rufledt says the problems haven't jeopardized public safety and the board still has confidence in the vendor.

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