The implications of a consolidation of management, control and operation of the Defense Communications Systems

The study addresses the implications to the Department of Defense in (1) the assignment of Defense Communications System (DCS) operation and maintenance responsibilities to a single military department, or (2) the establishment of a Defense Communications Command. The parallel organization of the military departments and the Defense Communications Agency (DCA) indicated that significant improvements in organization structure, managerial functions and resource allocation would be achieved by either of the two alternatives. Elements of the analysis support the establishment of a Communications Command while other more powerful factors mitigate against a change from the existing system. The primary factor weighing heavily against the transition is the residual military department non-DCS/nontactical telecommunication functions. Regardless of the organization structure and relationships involved, telecommunication functions significant in both scope and purpose remain outside the DCS and must be accomplished.