Maryland board approves $485M deal for emergency network

ANNAPOLIS — A Maryland board has approved a $485 million contract over 15 years with Motorola Inc. to begin building a single communications network to link all first responders and state officials across Maryland.

The Board of Public Works voted 2-1 to approve the project on Wednesday.

Comptroller Peter Franchot opposed the deal, because the entire cost for the project hasn’t been appropriated yet. He also opposed the contract because another company that bid on the project has filed a protest with the state’s Board of Contract Appeals, and the comptroller believed that should be resolved first.

Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who was sitting in for Gov. Martin O’Malley, and Treasurer Nancy Kopp voted to approve the contract.