Indiana to Lease Space on 311 State-Owned Towers

During this year’s legislative session in Indiana, the lawmakers approved a plan to raise money by leasing out underutilized capacity on the 311 state-owned cell towers, the Indy Star reported. These towers are mainly used for emergency communications, will be leased to the wireless carriers, and eventually to a third-party that would sublease to other companies. The Indy Star reported that budget officials are confident that these proceeds will cover the capital projects, the most expensive being the $25 million state archives facility and the $24 million inn for Potato Creek State Park near South Bend. “While the state claims there will be no cost to taxpayers because of the leasing of underutilized state cell tower capacity, that is money that could have gone to other priorities or simply back to taxpayers,” Indiana’s director of Americans for Prosperity, Chase Downham, said in a statement. (Indy Star)