Comments on Deletion of FTS 2000 Provision from 1996 Appropriation Act

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided on opinion on the deletion of the FTS 2000 mandatory utilization provision from the fiscal year 1996 Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriation Act. GAO noted that the: (1) provision's deletion would not affect current FTS 2000 contracts, since the General Services Administration has adequate independent authority under current law to mandate the use of the FTS 2000 network by federal agencies; and (2) inclusion of the mandatory FTS provision in the 1996 appropriations act is not necessary.