Economic and Operational Benefits in Local Telephone Services Can Be Achieved Through Government-Wide Coordination

Gao ID: LCD-80-9 November 14, 1979

Twelve federal departments and agencies spend at least $219 million annually for local telephone services. Significant savings and improved operations could be achieved by consolidating and modernizing these services. A few consolidations and modernizations have been made, but not on a coordinated government-wide basis.

Several studies have been made of the feasibility of consolidating government local telephone services in specific metropolitan areas. They have demonstrated potential economic and operational benefits. However, some government agencies have been independently planning modernizations without considering the needs of other federal organizations in the vicinity. The government needs to establish policies, guidelines, and procedures for consolidating on a coordinated government-wide basis. The General Services Administration (GSA) has responsibility for providing communications services for the agencies, but often delegates this authority to the agencies. Lack of coordination and cooperation between the agencies and the GSA led to inaction.

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.

Director: Warren G. Reed Team: General Accounting Office: Logistics and Communications Division Phone: (202) 275-4841


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