352 Pages 39 B/W Illustrations
    by Auerbach Publications

    352 Pages
    by Auerbach Publications

    Most telecom books focus on either traditional telecom billing audits or pure technology, with the cost saving ideas buried deep in the text. Busy decision-makers need the specifics quickly, without having to plow through details that do not affect the economics of a project. Telecommunications Cost Management takes cost saving techniques and brings them to the forefront where managers and decision makers can quickly use them for real world cost reductions or efficiency gains.

    Traditional bill auditing texts provide recommendations but only within the context of the existing architecture - for example, they might highlight techniques for reducing circuit switched leased lines but omit the pros and cons of leased lines versus alternatives. Telecommunications Cost Management provides a blueprint for cost reduction across all major technologies - from frame relay to IP telephony to contract recommendations. The text presents the key facts up front, with sample calculations for broadband, local access, equipment, and service alternatives. It provides scenarios showing the effects of different architectural strategies for both voice and data communications. Intended for the busy decision-maker, this reference eliminates the need to wade through unnecessary details and guides the reader directly to the cost saving techniques.

    INTRODUCTION TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS COST MANAGEMENT
    How to Reduce Telecom Expenses (The "Cliff Notes" Version)
    Why Are Telecom Costs So Difficult to Manage?
    Drivers for Customer Demands
    Carrier Challenges

    VISION
    Develop a Cost Management Vision
    Preliminary Information Gathering
    Getting the Numbers-First Cut

    TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUDITING
    Reasons for Telecom Bill Discrepancies
    The Telecom Service Ordering Life Cycle
    Two Approaches to Paying Bills
    Components of a Telephone Bill
    Sources of Billing Information
    Getting Down to the Details: Audit Steps

    WIDE AREA NETWORKING
    Wide Area Network Technology Options
    Wide Area Network Review Methodology

    ARCHITECTURE AND LOCAL ACCESS STRATEGIES
    Voice-over IP: Premises Equipment
    Local Access Strategies
    Miscellaneous Technical Solutions

    SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS: LARGE SAVINGS FOR THE RIGHT APPLICATIONS
    Basic Satellite Technology
    Risk Areas for Satellite Communications
    Controls to Improve Resiliency, Reliability, and Security
    Other Concerns
    The Future for Satellite Technology

    TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECURITY
    Voice and Telephony Security
    PBX Firewall
    VoIP (Voice over IP) Security

    TELECOMMUNICATIONS TAX MINIMIZATION STRATEGIES
    The Telecom Federal Excise Tax Refund Opportunity
    Ancient History
    Details of the Opportunity
    How the Refund Works in Practice
    Non-profit Organizations
    Exempt Businesses

    RFPS, CONTRACT OPTIMIZATION AND OUTSOURCING
    Throwing It Over the Fence: Outsourcing
    The Telecom Procurement/Contract Review
    The Request for Proposal/Request for Quotation
    Creating the RFP/RFQ
    Evaluating Vendor Proposals
    Scoring Model for Vendor Proposals
    Outsourcing

    THE FUTURE
    Regulatory Changes
    A World Lit Only by Packets
    Keynes was Right
    Storage Virtualization
    General Trends

    APPENDICES
    Telecommunications Cost Management Checklist
    White Papers from Quantum Shift
    Summary of Communications Tax Regulations, United States Internal Revenue Service
    Web Sites of Interest
    Sample RFP Template
    Sample Contract Terms and Conditions for a Complex Telecommunications Development Program
    Appendix G: Billing Related Telecom Concepts and Telecom Glossary
    Appendix H: Audit Program for Telecom Cost Management Field Work

    About the Authors
    Index

    Each chapter concludes with a summary

    Biography

    William A. Yarberry Jr, Thomas Phelphs, Brian Dimarsico