A communications system connecting local police with state emergency crews will hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast before spreading to the rest of the state.
Gov. Haley Barbour announced Monday an agreement for Motorola Inc. to construct the statewide communications system is final.
In three phases, Motorola will build a system of towers, radio equipment and other communications devices over a six-year period throughout Mississippi.
The final cost will range from $168 million to $200 million, depending on how many local governments join.
The goal is for state and local emergency officials to communicate with ease.
"Reliable communications mean a quicker response time, which will help save lives and deliver time-sensitive information during a crisis," Barbour said in a statement. He is in Japan trying to attract suppliers for the Toyota plant in Tupelo.
The Mississippi's Wireless Communication Commission awarded the contract to Motorola in November.
Work on the Mississippi Wireless Information Network will begin in Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties.
Towers will be moved to the Coast in August.
The system can be used for disaster response or chasing criminals, said George Sholl, Jackson County Emergency Communications director.
"The way we did it before, everybody had their own road," Sholl said. "With this, everybody's on the same highway."
He expects the cost to be only a "few hundred dollars" to make the Jackson County communications system work with the state's program.
"We can't use them right out of the box with each other," he said.
Some counties may pay more to join the system, depending on their capabilities.
An upgrade of the radio programs in Hinds County and Jackson will be needed, said Larry Fisher, Hinds County Emergency Operations Center director. He could not estimate a cost.
"What we will see as the state comes up through Mississippi is communities like the city of Jackson and Hinds County making certain we can move up to that state-of-the-art (level) with them," he said.
The state has $37 million to spend on the system.
A $200 million funding request was sliced by 90 percent during the legislative session.
David Lichliter, executive director of the state's Information Technology Services, said state officials will fund the remaining contract cost with legislative requests and grant funds.
As local governments consider joining the state system, Lichliter said taxpayer costs could be cut if officials share infrastructure.
Mississippi's system will be compatible with Motorola programs in Louisiana, Arkansas, Memphis and Birmingham.
Tennessee has asked for bids for such a communications system, Lichliter said.
Gov. Haley Barbour announced Monday an agreement for Motorola Inc. to construct the statewide communications system is final.
In three phases, Motorola will build a system of towers, radio equipment and other communications devices over a six-year period throughout Mississippi.
The final cost will range from $168 million to $200 million, depending on how many local governments join.
The goal is for state and local emergency officials to communicate with ease.
"Reliable communications mean a quicker response time, which will help save lives and deliver time-sensitive information during a crisis," Barbour said in a statement. He is in Japan trying to attract suppliers for the Toyota plant in Tupelo.
The Mississippi's Wireless Communication Commission awarded the contract to Motorola in November.
Work on the Mississippi Wireless Information Network will begin in Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties.
Towers will be moved to the Coast in August.
The system can be used for disaster response or chasing criminals, said George Sholl, Jackson County Emergency Communications director.
"The way we did it before, everybody had their own road," Sholl said. "With this, everybody's on the same highway."
He expects the cost to be only a "few hundred dollars" to make the Jackson County communications system work with the state's program.
"We can't use them right out of the box with each other," he said.
Some counties may pay more to join the system, depending on their capabilities.
An upgrade of the radio programs in Hinds County and Jackson will be needed, said Larry Fisher, Hinds County Emergency Operations Center director. He could not estimate a cost.
"What we will see as the state comes up through Mississippi is communities like the city of Jackson and Hinds County making certain we can move up to that state-of-the-art (level) with them," he said.
The state has $37 million to spend on the system.
A $200 million funding request was sliced by 90 percent during the legislative session.
David Lichliter, executive director of the state's Information Technology Services, said state officials will fund the remaining contract cost with legislative requests and grant funds.
As local governments consider joining the state system, Lichliter said taxpayer costs could be cut if officials share infrastructure.
Mississippi's system will be compatible with Motorola programs in Louisiana, Arkansas, Memphis and Birmingham.
Tennessee has asked for bids for such a communications system, Lichliter said.
