Drug Control

Communications Network Funding and Requirements Uncertain Gao ID: NSIAD-92-29 December 31, 1991

The steep rise in federal drug interdiction activity during the 1980s generated demand for better communication among drug enforcement agencies. Consequently, Congress directed the Defense Department to integrate U.S. command, control, communications, and technical intelligence assets used for drug interdiction into an effective communications network. DOD has contributed significant technical and financial support toward implementing the National Telecommunications Master Plan for Drug Enforcement and, by doing so, has made progress toward integrating an effective interdiction communications network. However, it is unclear when the network will be finished. Neither the master plan nor implementation plan specify a schedule or time goal for acquiring network equipment, most of the equipment required by the plans has not been procured, budget constraints leave future funding for equipment uncertain, and equipment requirements have not been fully determined. GAO calculated that at current equipment funding rates, it will take until fiscal year 2000 to complete the network. Furthermore, budget constraints and additional requirements could extend the completion time. DOD's Anti-Drug Network has enhanced communications among interdiction and intelligence organizations, and planned system improvements should further enhance the situation.

GAO found that: (1) DOD has contributed significant technical and financial support toward the implementation of the National Telecommunications Master Plan for Drug Enforcement; (2) although DOD has contributed $140 million to fund network equipment purchases, $340 million worth of planned equipment remains to be purchased; (3) due to funding uncertainties, it is not clear when a network will be established; (4) at the current annual funding rate of $47 million, it will take until fiscal year 2000 to fund the remaining equipment; (5) the implementation plan does not include equipment requirements for a required satellite communications system, and the satellite system may duplicate some of the radio equipment requirements delineated in the implementation plan; (6) Anti-Drug Network (ADNET) users report improved interdiction communications and intelligence; and (7) DOD is making improvements that should improve ADNET intelligence exchange capability.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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