Take My Towers, Please

Hinds County, Mississippi, officials are proposing that the state take over its $16 million emergency communications system. District 1 Supervisor Robert Graham is not on board with this plan, as he feels it makes no sense to turn it over to the state. The officials are considering this switch because the county’s system is obsolete and they can’t afford to purchase a new system. The Clarion-Ledger reported, “Graham said his fear is that the state wireless system won’t allow communications among emergency personnel inside many buildings, which he said could place police officers’ and firefighters’ lives in danger. He said the state system is geared toward communications near interstates.” If the switch occurs, the state will invest $5 million to upgrade the county’s radio towers. Under the proposed agreement between the county and the Mississippi Wireless Communications Commission, any assets and revenue from the county towers would go to the state once the agreement is in place. The agreement also says the county will have the right to use the frequencies licensed to the state and the WCC for the Mississippi Wireless Information Network. The Board of Supervisors is expected to call a special meeting next week to possibly vote on the proposed agreement, or another option.