CHESHIRE COUNTY, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) – Cheshire County has secured $936,000 in federal Congressionally Directed Spending to help replace aging telecommunications infrastructure used by the Southwestern New Hampshire District Fire Mutual Aid system, officials announced this week.

The funding was ultimately included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, which was approved by Congress and signed into law by the president, after originally appearing in the 2025 omnibus spending bill that failed to pass.

The investment will support upgrades to an end-of-life radio and communications network that serves 78 fire and EMS agencies across southwestern New Hampshire, southeastern Vermont, and north-central Massachusetts. The regional system supports emergency response operations across more than 2,000 square miles and handles more than 27,000 emergency calls each year.

Much of the existing equipment has exceeded its expected lifespan and relies on outdated components that are increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain. The $936,000 award is part of a broader $4.8 million project to replace critical infrastructure, including antennas, dispatch radios, and network hardware, with the goal of improving reliability, interoperability, and responder safety throughout the region.

County officials said Cheshire County has now secured a total of $2.8 million in grant funding for the project, significantly reducing the financial burden that would otherwise fall on participating municipalities.

Cheshire County expressed appreciation to U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen and the rest of New Hampshire’s federal delegation for their role in securing the funding, noting that the investment helps ensure rural communities have reliable public safety communication systems. County leaders said they will continue working with state and federal partners to pursue funding for essential infrastructure projects across the region.