The Chief Information Officer (CIO) Council, at the direction the Deputy Under Secretary, has established a policy that mandates a single provider of cell service to NOAA in the National Capital Region (NCR). This will provide the most cost effective service and allow NOAA to use a consolidated cellular service accounting and management tool.

NOAA has selected Verizon Wireless because of the extensive coverage provided, including coverage in the tunnels of the Washington D.C. Metro system as well as the underground tunnels to Capitol Hill. According to a recent nationwide survey, Verizon Wireless was rated highest in overall customer satisfaction in twelve major metropolitan areas.

To facilitate implementing this policy, NOAA has established a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with Verizon Wireless for cellular phones and service in the NCR. For existing Verizon Wireless subscribers, the transition will be an administrative one to take advantage of the new plan rates.

Offices outside the NCR may use this BPA as well, but the home area code for the service will be a Maryland area code.

Currently, the majority of cellular service in NOAA is established with a government credit card from the individual offices requiring the service. The process for the new contract will work much the same way. All persons who are responsible for ordering and maintaining cellular phone service for NOAA in the NCR will be the contact points for switching to the new service. The NOAA Line Office and Staff Office CIO's provided a list of persons responsible for ordering cellular service. These service order contacts have been invited via email to attend one of the transition meetings to learn about the new contract and to submit the transition requests. To begin the transition, subscribers should contact their current NOAA cell phone purchaser/support staff to make them aware of any special feature requirements. The transition is to be completed by September 1, 2004.

For those who currently have service through other cellular service providers, new phones will be required. There are three models from which to choose; two are free and one is available at a discounted rate. It is possible to port an existing cell phone number from the current cellular service provider to Verizon Wireless; however, that process will take longer than the alternative of having new numbers assigned. If opting to keep an existing cell phone number, the porting process may take several days during which the subscribers will need to carry both the old and new phones to ensure non-interruption of cell phone service.

Exceptions to this policy may be granted for unavailability of service in your geographic area, unavailability of features required for job performance or temporary waivers to avoid large penalties for early termination of current contract. Waiver requests are to be submitted through the NOAA cellular service purchaser/support staff to the associated line office/staff office Chief Information Officer for their review and requested approval.

More information about the service plans, service order contacts, coverage area and phones is available at: http://www.cio.noaa.gov/ito/telcom.html. The policy directive is available at: http://www.cio.noaa.gov/itmanagement/ciopol.htm.