The Nation - News from Oct. 10, 1989

The government is switching to a new long-distance telephone network designed to provide 1.3 million federal workers with state-of-the-art voice, data and video communications. The move, which officials say will save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, comes after five years of study, wrangling and complaints by losing bidders. The changeover began during the long Columbus Day weekend at 31 government buildings nationwide. Ultimately, more than 1,300 locations in 90 federal agencies will be tied to the network when it is fully installed in mid-1990. The General Services Administration is overseeing the mammoth changeover with the two prime contractors, American Telephone & Telegraph Co. and US Sprint Communications Co.