The Calhoun-Talladega 800 MHz communications system was originally developed and installed to enhance interoperability and to provide alert and notification for the community during the destruction of chemical weapons at the Anniston Army Depot (ANAD).
[3] As a result of the completion of chemical warfare disposal operations at ANAD, all federal funding for the communities surrounding the Anniston Army Depot will end on March 31, 2012.
By the time chemical weapons disposal was completed, the system was serving nearly 100 percent of the mission-critical communications needs in Calhoun and Talladega County.
On June 15, 2011, Alabama Governor Robert J. Bentley signed House Bill 389 into law as Act 2011-675 [4] to create the radio/alert notification communications district.
On April 1, 2012, the ARCS will become fully responsible for administration and operation of the 800 MHz system, with assets estimated at a value of approximately 100 million dollars.