Defense Communications: Defense's Program to Improve Telecommunications Management Is at Risk
IMTEC-93-15
Published: Feb 19, 1993. Publicly Released: Mar 23, 1993.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) improvements to its communications resources management, focusing on DOD implementation of its Telecommunications Management Program (TMP).
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | To ensure that the goals of improving the management of communications resources can be met, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (OASD/C3I) to clearly articulate a vision of how DOD communications business and management processes should be conducted DOD-wide. |
Closed – Implemented
Although DOD has partially agreed with the recommendation, it has reported that no additional guidance and direction is needed to manage its current communications environment. It believes that as the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) proceeds with the implementation of the Defense Information Infrastructure established by Defense Management Report Decision 918, the Telecommunications Management Program will be woven together with other critical elements. Defense has developed a high level vision as part of the DISA and Defense Information Infrastructure Master Plan.
|
| Department of Defense | To ensure that the goals of improving the management of communications resources can be met, the Secretary of Defense should direct OASD/C3I to define the communications management roles and responsibilities of DISA and other communications management and operational components. |
Closed – Implemented
Defense issued its Defense Information Infrastructure Master Plan, the DISA Strategic Plan, and updated its regulations to define the rules and responsibilities. The Department has also taken action to define overall rules and responsibilities within a recently drafted study. There actions meet the intent of the recommendation.
|
| Office of the Assistant Secretary for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence | OASD/C3I should direct DISA to develop a DOD-wide communications business plan that supports the OASD/C3I vision of DOD-wide communications management. |
Closed – Implemented
On September 3, 1993, the Comptroller, DISA, transmitted the agreed-upon business plan to OASD/C3I.
|
| Office of the Assistant Secretary for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence | OASD/C3I should direct DISA to give priority to the TMP information engineering effort to develop the DOD-wide telecommunications management system to support the business plan. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD states that priority has already been given to the Telecommunications Management Program. In addition, the information management models developed by the TMP office have resulted in fielding software to support the Defense Information System Network provisioning and customer service (a goal of TMP). Moreover, DOD reported that the model is being used for other business elements of DISA in providing telecommunications support to DOD operational requirements.
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Topics
Defense contingency planningDefense cost controlManagement information systemsMilitary communicationPlanningStrategic planningSystems managementTelecommunicationsEngineeringCommunications