911 panel considers upgrading a backup

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Recent emergency-call outages in South Dakota are prompting a search for a better statewide backup.

The South Dakota 911 Coordination Board on Thursday discussed whether to purchase a system known as RapidSOS Unite .

Jason Husby, the board’s executive director, said South Dakota’s emergency-call centers, known as public service answering points or PSAPs, currently use a basic version of RapidSOS that is free.

“This is something several PSAPs are asking for,” Husby said about upgrading to the RapidSOS Unite platform. He said Nebraska did it statewide because several PSAPs were going to do it alone.

Husby said he would get firm price quotes and bring them to the board’s December meeting. Several board members asked him to provide a list of additional features on the Unite system.

Earlier this year, the Legislature increased the 911 surcharge that phone users pay in South Dakota to $2 per line from $1.25. The increase however expires on July 1, 2026.

Perkins County Sheriff Kelly Serr, who succeeded Michelle DeNeui of Spearfish as the board’s chair on Thursday, said the indefinite future of the increased surcharge was something that should be kept in mind.

The board decided for now against pursuing a second backup system called Dejero .

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