§ 217. Communication. There shall be established in the division of state police, executive department, a basic coordinating police communication system at the headquarters of the division of state police and at such substations of the state police as shall be designated by the superintendent of state police, for the purpose of prompt collection and distribution of information throughout the state of New York as the police problems of the state may require. This basic system shall be known as the New York statewide police information network. Authority is hereby granted to connect the basic system herein provided for, directly or indirectly with other similar state, national or international systems.