Associated Press - September 23, 2009 3:35 PM ET

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska officials are celebrating the first phase of a project to link emergency radio systems statewide, so police and other first responders will be able to talk to each other.

The state joined with Nebraska Public Power District to pay for the $17.3 million network of towers and other equipment that has been in the making for years. A similar statewide communications network was scrapped in 2005 as too costly, but that system had a $150 million price tag.

Gov. Dave Heineman held a news conference at Scotts Bluff National Monument Wednesday to announce that emergency personnel in Nebraska's Panhandle will now be able to communicate by radio.

The new system is scheduled to be started in four phases across the state by the end of 2010.

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