Use of Appropriated Funds for the Installation of Telephone System

GAO was asked by the General Services Administration (GSA) to determine whether a statute prohibited the installation of Federal Secure Telephone Service (FSTS) telephones in the private residences of selected officials who may be required to discuss official matters of a sensitive nature from their homes, where use of such telephones would be limited to official business. GAO held that the GSA proposal did not violate the applicable statute, which prohibits the expenditure of appropriated funds for telephone service installed in private homes, since the FSTS system has sufficient safeguards built-in to reduce dangers and abuses. Accordingly, there were no objections to appropriated funds being used for the installation and maintenance of FSTS telephones.