Did Cleveland Make $2.3 Million Radio Mistake?

Controversy is swirling around the city of Cleveland’s (Ohio) radio system after the local newspaper revealed that officials there used $2.3 million from a homeland security grant to buy a Motorola radio zone controller last year, locking the city in to only Motorola gear for a future upgrade. The Plain-Dealer story also pointed out that the city didn’t make certain parts of their upgrade Request for Proposal public, nor are they encouraging bidders to visit existing radio sites and comm centers. The entire effect of the story is to suggest that Motorola has blocked other potential bidders from bidding, and for less money. Read the story and the interesting reader comments here.