Office of Public Safety Communications
In accordance with HB22-1353 Public Safety Communications Transfer the Office of Public Safety Communications (OPSC) transferred from the Governor’s Office of Information Technology t
o the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) effective July 1, 2023.
The Office of Public Safety Communications includes the Digital Trunked Radio System. This system is a near-seamless statewide wireless system that enables direct communications to the more than 1,000 state, local, federal and tribal public safety agencies and emergency responses across the state. The system allows them to communicate both daily and for emergency incidents.
OPSC provides operability and interoperability between public safety agencies and emergency responders to 267 sites across the state and serves more than 1,000 state, local, federal, and tribal agencies using over 134,000 subscriber units. OPSC is the primary method for mission-critical public safety communications across the state.
- Request Service
- Related Websites
- Contact Us: OPSC Roster
Digital Trunk Radio Monitoring
- 303-764-7975
- Monday - Friday
- 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- webdtr@state.co.us
Mailing Address is 15055 South Golden Road, Mailbox#9, Golden, Colo., 80401.
Physical Address is 9195 E. Mineral Avenue, Suite 200, Centennial, Colo., 80112.
- The Story Behind the Colorado Statewide Digital Trunked Radio System
In the early 1990s, the State of Colorado envisioned a continuation project to replace the multiple disparate wireless communications systems operated by state and local governmental agencies. A seven-phase project was planned and constructed through partnerships with local municipal, county, tribal, state and federal governmental agencies to make a communications system that would be available to all public safety, public service and other governmental agencies as either their primary radio system or for interoperability only. The resulting system was named the Colorado Statewide Digital Trunked Radio System - or DTRS.
In 1998, the Communication Services team within the Department of Personnel & Administration's (DPA) Division of Information Technologies (DoIT) began implementing the first phases of DTRS. The early phases spanned four years and included participation from the legacy infrastructure partners, Douglas and Jefferson counties. By early 2002, the DTRS coverage footprint spanned the majority of the Denver metro area, including Adams and Arapahoe counties, as well portions of northeast and southeast Colorado. In August 2002, the Consolidated Communications Network of Colorado (CCNC), a formalized DTRS user group, was formed. CCNC participants include all full and associate members using the DTRS, governs participation on the system. All levels of government from municipal to federal, as well as all types of first responders ranging from police, fire, EMS, public works, schools, hospitals, utilities and transit represent the CCNC membership.
The State of Colorado, through the Communication Services team, has maintained an integral partnership with all levels of government and users on the system, functioning as the primary entity providing system engineering and support. In April 2008, the Colorado General Assembly funded a multi-million dollar upgrade to the DTRS network. This upgrade included a significant hardware and software replacement affecting 28 local and state public safety dispatch centers statewide as well equipment at all system sites. Additionally, the Pikes Peak Regional Communications Network (PPRCN) became part of CCNC in July 2009 and its Zone Controller was upgraded and integrated into the DTRS. Upgrade benefits include transition to an IP-based network environment, space to add IP-based and hard-wired dispatch consoles, as well as a supported platform for growth with future Project 25 (P25) technologies.
Five of the project phases had been completed when pursuant to Senate Bill 08-155, DoIT - and therefore its Communication Services team - was transferred from DPA to the Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT) on July 1, 2008. Heralded nationally as a successful example of local and state-level partnership in public safety communications, the DTRS will now additionally benefit from formalized processes and project management as the state works with local government to complete the statewide build-out of the system.
Under OIT, Public Safety Communications Network (PSCN) continues to implement additional infrastructure statewide as described in the initial plan. The Colorado Wireless Interoperability Network (CWIN) initiative provided for funding as a single project to assist in the completion of the initial phases. The CWIN program provided almost $40 million in grants to local governments for the construction of new infrastructure. In addition, Colorado was awarded $14.3 million from the PSIC grant for disbursement to local and state government. A significant portion of the PSIC funds has been used for DTRS infrastructure and subscriber equipment.
The infrastructure currently consists of 267 active radio sites operating on six zone controllers and provides mobile radio coverage to approximately 95% of the state highways. The system utilizes frequencies in both the 700 MHz and 800 MHz bands. There are more than 1,000 state, local, county, federal and tribal agencies and over 134,000 subscriber radios using DTRS. Approximately one-third of the users are state agencies while two-thirds of the users are local and federal government agencies. The system averaged more than 9,000 hours of talk time each month and completed over 105 million calls in 2025.
The system has additional radio sites planned for implementation in 2026-2027 to provide additional coverage in areas still needing coverage.
DTRS provides a near-seamless statewide wireless system that enables direct communications between agencies requiring primary and interoperable communications for daily and emergency incidents. DTRS supports wireless voice (and in the future data communications) on a single integrated system based upon the P25 suite of open standards. The main deliverables of DTRS are improved communications for all participating agencies with significant improvement in interoperability between agencies. The DTRS meets the highest level of interoperability for Technology on the SAFECOM Interoperability Continuum, as it is integrated via gateways, with other public safety communications networks throughout the state. DTRS initially received funding through the "Public Safety Trust Fund” created by HB98-1068 and more recently through Homeland Security, CWIN, Energy and Mineral Impact, Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) and other federal grants. These grant programs have promoted local, regional, and tribal government participation in DTRS via funding of significant infrastructure additions to the system.- Ptarmigan Signing Off 2026
On September 3, 1942 the Mountain Training Center (MTC) was activated at Camp Carson, Colorado, among various companies was the 110th Signal Platoon. The MTC moved to Camp Hale in late fall 1942 shortly after its completion. At over 9,000 feet above sea level Soldiers found out immediately that even the simplest tasks became laborious in the thin air and bitter cold of the Rocky Mountains.
The 110th Signal Company specializing in mountain and winter warfare communications, provided the backbone of critical signal and communication support (radio and wire) for the 10th Light Division (later 10th Mountain Division). The company was composed of radio, wire, message and operator platoons. The radio platoon was divided up between infantry and artillery battalions. The wire platoon maintained communication with the division’s higher headquarters. The message center platoon maintained various mobile type units in vehicles and on the back of pack mules. And the operations section manned the telco switchboards.
Camp Hale’s remote location was strategic in nature and required telecom resources necessary to communicate with the outlying world and the surrounding training areas. The radio relay terminal station was constructed atop Ptarmigan Hill (12650’ elevation) situated between Resolution Mountain and Machine Gun Ridge. From the station to Camp Hale included nearly five miles of utility poles, telephone/telegraph wire and power lines. Ptarmigan consisted of two roughly 10’x20’ dirt floor shelters constructed of logs and plank wood. One shelter housed the Radio Terminal Station Equipment: telephone terminal carrier, teletype carriers, AM and FM radio transmitters and radio receivers. The other shelter seemed to be an overnight quarters for members of the 110th Signal Company’s 24/7 terminal operators and radio/telecom technicians.Following the end of WWII The Camp was deactivated in November 1945. During the late 50s to early 60s the CIA repurposed Camp Hale to train Tibetan resistance fighters codenamed ST CIRCUS. A primary purpose of the site was to train Tibetan “radio teams” who would parachute back into Tibet. These teams were trained to establish long-range communication and send real-time intelligence on Chinese Troop movements, along with how to encrypt and send/receive morse code via radio. The camp officially closed in 1964. At Ptarmigan Hill the remaining war era radios, telecom equipment having gone silent were all removed, the wire was pulled and all utility poles were cut in place. Only the two empty dirt floor shacks remained in place.
During the 1990s with increased traffic, adverse weather, and extended road closures within the I-70/Vail Pass area a lack of public safety radio coverage continued to be a hot topic of concern to state and local governments. State Communication Services (OPSC) regional technicians began to survey the area for solutions and constructed an engineering plan reusing the dormant Ptarmigan Hill. In September 1996 Communications Services engineer Dennis Kalvels composed a letter to the USFS requesting approval to install a solar powered VHF repeater on Ptarmigan Hill. Forest Service response was a rare approval for a temporary installation of two VHF repeaters, solar panels, batteries, and antenna systems which were to be used by the Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado State Patrol. Approval was intended to be temporary as the USFS was planning to move a building from Sunlight Peak the following year for their own VHF communications. The following year came and went, with USFS personnel installing a VHF repeater within the shelter. Their plans of a building move from Sunlight to Ptarmigan never happened and the dirt floor shack remained along with a few seasonal inhabitants.
The state's CSP and CDOT VHF repeaters provided 100s of hours of life saving emergency talk time giving first responders a direct talk path to both the Craig Communication Center and Hanging Lake Dispatch since 1997. With few parts for repair, ongoing site maintenance, and not being utilized since the addition of the Digital Trunked Radio System (DTRS) which has expanded into the region. OPSC Glenwood and Grand Junction technicians along with two Tucker Snowcat’s recently conducted full decommissioning and cleanup. Removing over 2000 pounds of radios, coax, antennas, solar panels and batteries. Once again it brings another end to the history of the Camp Hale Ptarmigan Hill Communications Site.
Ptarmigan Hill: 39.494832° -106.259721° (12,150’) Has no accessible roads and is only accessible by short hike from the nearby USFS rd702.1 Resolution Road out of Camp Hale. During winter months Ptarmigan can be accessed via snow machine or cross-country skiing from Vail Pass or Camp Hale. The buildings atop the hill are frequently used by cross country travelers as a warming hut.
Photos below from top to bottom:
- Terry Carter removing equipment from Ptarmigan.
- Late 1990s technicians complete a maintenance log.
- Snowcats awaiting their cargo.
Information for photos below:
- Top: Left-Right Eddie Aispuro, Santos Cornejo-Carranza, Colin Gregory.
- Bottom: Snowcats loaded and ready to roll.
Photo below is three Members of the Tenth Mountain Division, 110th Signal Corps Company, stand outside the door of their barracks at Camp Hale, Colorado. All are in uniform and one is carrying skis and poles.
Photo below is a 240-woman WAC detachment (Women’s Army Corps) arrived at Camp Hale on May 27, 1943. They were motor pool drivers and mechanics, supply specialists, secretaries, and worked in communications and accounting. Their barracks were at First and B Streets.
Article below: This article has been clipped from the The Camp Hale Ski-Zette July 30, 1943.
- Reports