§2669a Diplomatic Telecommunications Service

Summary

Require the Secretary of State to pay each fiscal year starting in 1995 enough money to keep the Diplomatic Telecommunications Service (DTS) working at its current level, and that money cannot be moved to other uses. All DTS funds must be available directly to the DTS Program Office (DTS–PO), and the DTS–PO financial manager must have direct access to the Department of State financial system to watch and control how those funds are spent. Within 60 days after August 26, 1994, the Secretary and the DTS–PO Director must remake the DTS Policy Board so it includes the DTS–PO Director, the top information official from each agency already on the board, senior career information officials from the Department of Commerce and the Defense Intelligence Agency, and two rotating senior career information officials from other agencies served by DTS (each for a 2-year term). They must finish a consolidation pilot at at least five medium-to-large embassies by October 1, 1995. Each pilot embassy must get integrated message, data, and voice services at no extra charge; a jointly run combined transmission facility with open access to unclassified equipment; an unclassified packet switch system for all foreign affairs agencies there; the end of separate classified systems (including MERCURY); and require all international communications for foreign affairs agencies to go through DTS. By January 15, 1996, they must report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on what they did and include a cost-benefit study for each embassy. By January 15, 1995, they must give those committees a planning report that shows the pilot plan and cost estimate and a full DTS strategy and schedule covering network layout and security, the move from dedicated and classified circuits to the unclassified packet system, basic voice service for all DTS users, funding and replacement plans, combining network centers and overseas operations, and steps to rely less on full-time contractors.