Grayson County approves reassignment to T‑Mobile, moves ahead with three public‑safety towers

The Grayson County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a resolution reassigning the county’s existing agreements with U.S. Cellular to T‑Mobile and moved forward with plans to build three towers that will carry new public‑safety radio equipment and commercial cellular and fixed wireless service.

County staff and outside consultants told the board that T‑Mobile completed a July acquisition of U.S. Cellular’s retail wireless business and will assume the company’s prior obligations in Grayson County. "As most of you probably know, in July, T‑Mobile closed on the transaction to take over all of U.S. Cellular's cellular service business," county project staff Tom said, according to the meeting transcript.

The reassignment applies to the portion of a multi‑part agreement in which the county provided a grant to place cellular equipment on poles and required the provider to maintain antennas for a set period. County staff said passing the resolution approves the amended agreement and authorizes the chairman or vice chairman to sign the paperwork.

Why it matters: The agreements underpin a countywide upgrade to 9‑1‑1 dispatch, public‑safety radio redundancy and expanded Internet and cellular coverage in parts of the county that have had limited service. Staff emphasized that the county's tax‑exempt grant funds are restricted to 9‑1‑1 equipment purchases and the grant for cellular equipment and cannot be used for tower construction; federal auditors will review account allocations when the project closes.

Board discussion and vote

Board members…