Wireless Telephone Approval

Before acquiring wireless telephone service or equipment for those not pre-approved, an agency or university needs written approval. Approval may be granted from one of two sources. Authorization may be granted by a department secretary, university president or chancellor who has received specific, written delegated authority from OTS. If a delegation has not been issued by OTS, authorization must be recommended by the OTS for final approval by the Commissioner of Administration. The same eligibility requirements must be met regardless of the approval source. 

1. Delegated Approval Authority: Upon request, the OTS director may delegate approval authority to the requesting department secretary, university president or chancellor. Once approval authority has been delegated, the agency's department secretary, university president, or chancellor will then have final approval authority for wireless telephone service requests. That individual will be responsible for approval of all wireless telephone requests for individuals under their authority except for boards and commissions within the department or university. Such wireless telephone approval authority may not be further delegated. Requests for wireless telephone service may be approved only by that department secretary, university president, or chancellor. Department secretaries, university presidents, or chancellors interested in obtaining approval authority are encouraged to contact the OTS Director. Delegation of authority is not available to boards and commissions.
   
   Once approval authority has been delegated, requests for wireless telephone service must be submitted in writing for consideration and possible approval to the appropriate department secretary, university president or chancellor (See Cellular Authority​ for current department approval authority.)
2. OTS/NS Director/Commissioner of Administration Approval: For agencies whose department secretary, university president or chancellor has not been delegated cellular approval authority, a requestor must submit a letter of justification for wireless telephone service to the OTS Director. ​This request must include full justification and must be approved in writing by the appropriate department secretary, university president or chancellor before it is submitted to the OTS Director. The requestor will be informed about the decision when the OTS/NS director has approved or disapproved the request.

All approvals shall be based upon the following screening criteria concerning the protection of life and property or a demonstrated requirement to improve efficiency and effectiveness, and a lack of a suitable communications alternative.

Protection of life and property: the job duties of the individual require the performance of duties that could impact the protection of life and property. These duties may be impeded without immediate access (inbound and/or outbound) to the public telephone network regardless of time of day or location of the employee.

• Law enforcement: the daily job duties of the individual require the performance of law enforcement activities, and these activities may expose the individual or the general public to harm or danger.
• Personal safety: the daily job duties of the individual require the performance of activities that may expose the individual or clients to harm or danger.
• Public welfare: the daily job duties of the individual require the performance of duties that may directly impact the safety, health and welfare of the general public.

Improved efficiency and effectiveness: the job duties of the individual require immediate access (inbound and/or outbound) to the public telephone network for recall, consultation and/or decision making. Lack of instantaneous communications could have significant effect on the operational efficiency of the agency or significant impact on the economic or political welfare of the state.

• On call: duties require that the individual be immediately accessible after normal work hours regardless of location.
• Mobile or in transit: duties require that the individual be mobile or in transit a large percentage of the business day yet immediately accessible.

Lack of suitable communications alternatives: no other suitable communications alternatives (one-way or interactive pagers, two-way radio, standard telephone service) are available due to the location or environmental conditions of the workplace.