Radio Authentication Deadline Extended - Fines to be Imposed Jan 1, 2026

Radio Authentication Deadline Extended - Fines to be Imposed Jan 1, 2026

Thank you to all of you who have authenticated your MARCS radios and met the July 1 deadline. There are over 100,000 of you who have done so. As you know, Radio Authentication is important to protect the emergency communications infrastructure of the MARCS radio system throughout Ohio.

Unfortunately, the Radio Authentication project cannot yet be fully implemented at this time, as there are still many radios that have yet to be authenticated and 100% of our radios need to be completed in order for this project to go forward. Therefore, the original deadline is being extended to Dec. 31, 2025, to allow for everyone to complete radio authentication.

For those entities who have yet to authenticate their radios, and who go beyond the newly extended deadline, fines will be imposed beginning Jan. 1, 2026.Fines will increase every 30 days if radios remain unauthenticated. We regret having to take this action; however, the MARCS Program Office has been actively encouraging customers to have radios authenticated to provide the best and most secure service for everyone since July 1, 2020.

If you are a MARCS customer who hasn’t had your radios authenticated, immediately take the following two actions:

1. Please contact your radio manufacturer or programming vendor today to begin the authentication process.

2. Please email MARCSRadioAuthentication@DAS.Ohio.gov explaining your plan, including a timeline, to complete the process to authenticate your radios. 

What is Radio Authentication and why?

Radio Authentication is a necessary step to protect the MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communication System) system and is an industry standard in public safety/first responder communications.

Each radio – base, mobile, and portable – must have Radio Authentication to operate on the MARCS system by Jan. 1, 2026.

Radio Authentication (also known as Link Layer Authentication) is an increased safety and security measure to ensure only authorized users have access to the radio system. This increased security helps safeguard against unauthorized people using and listening on the system and helps to protect against those attempting to disrupt the system.

Since July 1, 2020, the MARCS Program Office has been actively encouraging customers to have their radios authenticated to provide the best and most secure service to everyone.

Some radios purchased after July 1, 2019, may already have been authenticated.

If you have a radio purchased prior to July 1, 2019, the radio may have the ability to be updated to comply with Radio Authentication, without the need to purchase a new radio.

For questions, contact:

MARCS Program Office Ohio Department of Administrative Services Email: MARCSRadioAuthentication@DAS.Ohio.gov Call: 866-OHMARCS (866-646-2727) Website: DAS.Ohio.gov/MARCS Your help in securing the MARCS system is appreciated!