Federal Government Consolidates Wireless Spending

The federal government moved to consolidate mobile phone service for its sprawling staffs, which could save as much as $300 million over five years, according to Dan Tangherlini, acting administrator of the General Services Administration.

The GSA, which is funded by fees from IT and other services that it provides to federal agencies, struck a blanket purchase agreement with AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile, Tangherlini said. The agreement will ensure uniform prices and conditions, as well as sharing of wireless minutes among federal workers, which will reduce overage charges, he said. The government currently has 4,000 wireless agreements that make use of 800 different calling plans. The extent of the savings depends upon the participation of federal agencies in the program, which is voluntary. So far, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit at the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Marshalls’ unit of the Justice Department, and the Department of Energy have signed on to the program, according to the GSA. State and local governments are eligible to join as well.