As negotiated by the County Commission, Montgomery County Joint Communications (MCJC) will receive $1.5 million from Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2026 to modernize the county’s public safety radio system, which supports law enforcement, fire, EMS and 911 dispatch operations.
The funds are part of the agreement between the county and AWS for the construction of a data center at the Heart of America Mega Site located in Montgomery County.
According to Montgomery County Joint Communications 911 Director Matt Eskew, the county’s current radio system is a VHF analog system that relies heavily on multiple channels and repeaters based on location.
Eskew said deputies and first-responders are often required to change channels as they move across the county. During fast-moving incidents such as pursuits, this can require multiple channel changes, presenting safety concerns and the risk of missed communications.
Additionally, under the current system, first-responders using different tower sites cannot always hear each other. When two radio units transmit at the same time from different areas, their transmissions can overlap, making it difficult for dispatchers to understand the traffic. This often requires field units to repeat messages, increasing radio congestion and delaying emergency response.
He said this has led to concerns from law enforcement agencies in particular as often it makes it more difficult for such agencies to coordinate a response plan for an emergency situation, due to the limitations of the current system. The new system would help reduce the overlap in radio traffic and would allow for units to communicate directly with one another.
Additionally, Eskew said that the equipment being used by the county currently is at least five years old, with some radio equipment being over 20 years in age. Many departments have already moved to a digital system, which uses the latest radio technology, Eskew said.
The 911 director said the new system will allow first-responders to stay on the same radio channels for law enforcement, emergency medical services and fire and allow for greater flexibility for dispatchers.
He said one of the primary goals of the new system would be to reduce response times and increase overall safety for field units.
The new system will replace the current system with a countywide simulcast radio system. Simulcast means multiple radio towers transmit the same message at the same time on the same channel. Field units and dispatchers will no longer need to change channels as they move throughout the county. The system will also listen across all tower sites and rebroadcast field unit traffic, ensuring that transmissions are heard countywide regardless of which tower initially receives the signal, Eskew said.
Under the new design, the county will operate three countywide simulcast channels for law enforcement, fire and EMS.
“These improvements will significantly improve communication, safety, and coordination among first responders,” Montgomery County Presiding Commissioner Ryan Poston said. “This project will benefit all residents of Montgomery County and is possible because of key economic development projects along the I-70 corridor.”
As part of the project, MCJC will also add two new 180-foot radio tower sites in Middletown and Jonesburg. These taller towers allow antennas to be mounted higher, extending radio range, reducing dead spots and improving overall reliability throughout the county.
Eskew said that currently there are four radio towers and, with the addition of the two new towers, there will still be a total of four involved in the simulcast system. He said that the two taller towers will effectively replace two towers mounted at significantly lower elevation levels. He said that the current tower outside of Middletown is around 90 feet in height.
“We appreciate the City of Jonesburg for offering a lifetime easement at no cost for the new tower site,” Eskew said. “Because no land purchase is required, this partnership will help reduce costs and accelerate project timelines once funding is released.”
While the new system allows for countywide coverage, handheld radios will still have the same power limitations as they do today, meaning they do not transmit as far as in-vehicle mobile radios. As with any radio system, no technology can provide 100 percent coverage in all conditions, but this design represents a substantial improvement over the current system.
Eskew said that initially the new system will be established as an analog system with the goal to transition to a P25 conventional digital platform. The upgrades will allow the county to make that transition to digital more effectively.
As the 2026 phase of the project will continue to operate in analog mode, this will allow existing radios to remain in service and avoid immediate replacement costs, Eskew said.
In 2027, AWS will fund an additional $1.5 million, which will be used to upgrade field radios and help facilitate the transition of the system to a P25 digital conventional radio system, further enhancing clarity and interoperability, he said.
County officials emphasized that this is a phased, fiscally responsible approach designed to significantly improve emergency communications while preparing the county for future needs.
“This will be significantly better than what we currently have,” Eskew said.
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