New CTO Brings Decades of Expertise to Enhance Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s Statewide Tower Network

Andrew Bicknell has been named the new Chief Technology Officer and Director of Engineering at Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB). In his role, he will oversee the agency’s statewide network of eight towers and 12 microwave towers. With over 35 years of experience in broadcasting and communications engineering, Bicknell previously held positions as the Director of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer at Arkansas PBS and joint Chief Engineer of Radio and Television at Houston Public Media. He began his career in Perth, Western Australia before moving to the United States in 1997.

Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s tower network plays a critical role as a first alert provider for the state of Mississippi, working in partnership with agencies such as the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Public Safety, and the Office of the Governor. Strengthening the network infrastructure and supporting the agency’s digital-first approach to programming and network engineering are top priorities for Bicknell at MPB.

MPB Executive Director Royal Aills expressed excitement about welcoming Andrew to the team, noting that his wealth of knowledge is crucial as the station transitions to a new digital-first approach to broadcasting. Bicknell’s expertise and experience will be instrumental in enhancing MPB’s network capabilities and ensuring high-quality programming for the people of Mississippi.