Wireless Communication Commission asks lawmakers for $12.0 million to sustain MSWINS network

The Wireless Communication Commission asked the Appropriations subcommittee for roughly $12,003,011 in FY26 funding to maintain and operate the state’s MSWINS public‑safety communications infrastructure and to retain its full complement of 10 positions.

The commission’s representative told lawmakers that more than 90% of the requested increase over the LBO recommendation goes to contractual services that support towers, site leases and a maintenance contract with Motorola. The presentation listed recurring costs including tower leases (about $5,750,000 annually), land leases (about $470,000 annually) and a Motorola maintenance contract of roughly $3,200,000 a year. The agency said it operates a statewide system and that lifesaving communications during recent tornadoes showed the system’s role: "When those tornadoes came through Rolling Fork... MSWINS was the only communication system that was operational," the presenter said, urging continued investment in upkeep and spare equipment.

The commission also cited generator, UPS and propane needs after severe weather events: the agency said 43 sites ran on generators during the December storms and that prolonged outages required fuel and replacement equipment. Capital requests include generator and UPS replacements (cited generator cost roughly $35,000; large UPS units around $24,000 each) and commodity budgets that reflect frequent propane fills for remote sites. The speaker noted the existing refresh program — a roughly $22,000,000 appropriation provided three years earlier — will conclude in June and a separate $3,900,000 coverage expansion funded multiple new sites now nearing completion.

Committee members questioned recurrence of lease increases and the cost to collocate new sites. Agency staff answered that most leases increase at predictable intervals and estimated a collocation/GTR (ground‑to‑radio) buildout at roughly $800,000–$1,000,000 depending on microwave vs. fiber backhaul choices. On transition questions, the commission said a contemplated administrative move of some responsibilities to MEMA should not produce additional transition expenses for the commission.

No formal vote was taken; the presentation concluded with the commission offering to provide a prioritized list of candidate sites and cost estimates for future consideration.

The commission’s request will be considered alongside other agency budget items as the committee develops final appropriation recommendations.