The Government Computer New article, GSA and OPM develop new toolkit for telework, counter auditors’ criticism, By Jason Miller GCN Staff 09/01/03, reports that OPM and GSA are working jointly to develop a telework toolkit specifically targeting six government agencies where less than 2 percent of employees telecommute: the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Justice, State and Veterans Affairs, and the Small Business Administration.

While GSA and OPM weren't offering additional details yet, the article shows how the Telework Consortium is helping in these efforts, describing one of our many Telework Pilots with Treasury, where a new report is due out soon.

"OPM and GSA officials said they are working to create a cohesive approach to telecommuting. GSA is working with the Telework Consortium  of Herndon, Va., to improve federal telecommuting efforts. Congress appropriated funds last year to create the consortium. With the $5.8 million, the consortium has worked with GSA telecenters around the Washington area and with agencies to test teleworking technologies, said John Starke, president of the consortium.

"The consortium is running a pilot with the Treasury Department’s Inspector General for Tax Administration bureau to test collaboration tools and develop metrics to measure the success of the pilot. The metrics will assess factors such as real estate management, use of telecommunications and software products, and effects on the bureau’s internal network.

"“One of the things we need to do is work with the IT people to get the bandwidth and communications infrastructure in place,” Starke said. “That is the biggest cost for agencies. The collaboration tools are a one-time cost, but upgrading the connection to the desktop to at least a T1 line is the biggest problem.”"

10:23:17 AM    
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