Our History

In 2001, the City of Phoenix issued bonds to implement an advanced 800 MHz digital trunked radio system. At that time, the existing VHF communications system used by the City’s public safety and other departments was outdated and no longer met operational needs.

The system became operational in 2005 as the Phoenix Regional Wireless Network (PRWN).

In 2008, after extensive study and deliberation, City of Phoenix leadership recognized significant benefits in regionalizing communications. Consequently, PRWN was dissolved and reformed as the Regional Wireless Cooperative (RWC), allowing it to offer communication services to its member agencies.

In 2019, after many years under the management of the Phoenix Fire Department, the RWC assumed responsibility for the Fire VHF (conventional) simplex radio system, which is still in use today. This system is employed by all Metro Phoenix Fire Departments for hazard-zone communications such as fires and hazardous materials incidents.

Today, guided by our member agencies, the RWC oversees the administration, operation, management, maintenance, and expansion of these two substantial regional communications networks. We remain committed to equity, efficiency, and excellence in all our endeavors.

The RWC currently includes 21 Cities, Towns, Fire Districts, and other Government agencies located in the Phoenix metropolitan region, as well as two Associate, one Long-Term Conditional and nearly 50 Interoperability Participating agencies. The RWC is Member driven and truly regional. Because of this our system can provide significantly wider coverage--beyond what cities could achieve individually--seamless interoperability, shared resources, such as people, equipment and tower sites, and funding and financial responsibilities shared by all Members based on their relative size and number of radios on the system.

The RWC operates as a cooperative venture through intergovernmental agreements, overseen by a Board of Directors. Each member of the RWC holds a seat and voting rights on the Board. The Board is responsible for directing the operations, maintenance, planning, design, implementation, and financing of the RWC. Membership is available to all local, county, state, federal, and tribal governmental entities.

The Regional Wireless Cooperative (RWC) employs both a Motorola ASTRO 25™ 700 MHz digital trunked radio system and a VHF Simplex system specifically for Fire Hazard-Zone operations. These systems provide coverage to 3.7 million residents across 5,000 square miles of south-central Arizona. Our membership encompasses the Town of Wickenburg in the northwest, extending to the City of Maricopa in the south, and from the Harquahala Valley in the west to Scottsdale, Tempe, and Chandler in the east. The system includes 20,000 member radios, with an additional 20,000+ used by interoperability participants. These participants consist of local, state, federal, and tribal agencies authorized to communicate with RWC agencies via the system.

The RWC is governed by a Board of Directors comprising one executive representative from each Member agency. The Board is tasked with establishing the vision, mission, and goals of the organization, monitoring policy, governing the cooperative, representing and protecting Member interests within the cooperative, appropriating the annual budget, ensuring adequate maintenance of the cooperative's assets, and overseeing and controlling functions. The Board also supervises the annual financial audit process to ensure it is completed timely each year.

The Executive Director, who answers to the Board of Directors, oversees four staff members who help with the administration and financial management of the RWC.  The RWC is also supported by several working groups comprised of technical and operational representatives from our Members. 

The City of Phoenix serves as the Administrative Employer of Record (RWC Governance Section 2.3.1), handling HR, payroll, benefits, and legal employment status. Although RWC employees are legally employed by the City, they work exclusively for the Cooperative’s mission. This “Employer of Record” model resolves the legal challenge of being a non-chartered entity while maintaining public-sector employee status.