In January 2009 Hickory decided to "upgrade" their MA/COM EDACS system to the MA/COM Opensky Platform.

From the minutes of a recent town hall session:

Award Bid to Tyco (MA/COM) to Purchase the P25 – OpenSky Hybrid
Communications System in the Amount of $1,542,685.00 
 
  The Hickory Police Department (HPD) requests a major upgrade the City’s 800
MHz critical radio system to a new Tyco (MA/COM) system in the amount of
$1,542,685.00.  The current 800 MHz radio system was purchased in 1994 and
many replacement parts are no longer manufactured.  The FCC is taking HPD’s
radio frequencies and allocating them to Nextel.  The FCC is requiring Nextel to
pay for new mobile and handheld radios, a value of $800,000.00. With the receipt
of the equipment from Nextel, the value of the radio system is $2,342,685.00, but
the City will only spend $1,542,685.00.  Tyco (MA/COM) is the City’s existing
vendor and met all of the RFP standards.  Tyco (MA/COM) was the second
lowest bidder.  The lowest bidder did not meet specifications, including no data
solution which would require additional equipment and software cost.  The City
has negotiated free hardware maintenance for one (1) year at a savings of
$61,000.00 and free software maintenance for three (3) years saving
$186,000.00.  The new radio system should  last 15 to 20 years.  The purchase
will be made by a “down payment” of $500,000.00 from cash reserves and
financing $1,042,685.00 for ten (10) years at an interest rate of 3.79%.  The debt
service payment will be $110,000.00 annually, funded from reductions in HPD
budget for maintenance and equipment replacements for the old system.  Staff
recommends approval.