2008 Woodie Awards
University pays $147K for staff cell phones
Bridgette Blight
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News
02/14/08 - Last fiscal year the University of Rhode Island spent $147,363 on 368 university-owned cell phones, according to a report prepared by the university for the Cigar.
The university started using cell phones in 1999 to replace and complement landline telephones, pagers and radios. The older technology made it difficult to reach employees "in the field," according to J. Vernon Wyman, assistant vice president for Business Services, who said cell phones have allowed URI to run more efficiently.
"Our efficiency is much improved," Wyman said. "[Cell phones] have allowed us to stay in touch with our personnel."
The report said of the 368 cell phones, 228 have the capability of making outside calls. The other 140 only have "direct connect" capability and can only communicate among URI employee phones.
URI employees carrying a cell phone have to follow the plan set forth by Sharon Bell, URI's controller. The policy and procedures require URI employees with a cell phone to reimburse the university for any personal phone calls made from their URI cell phone. These personal calls must be reported as a fringe benefit on the employee's income tax.
Staff members with cell phones that have direct connect capability do not have this responsibility. This also allows URI to reimburse staff members for business calls made on their personal cell phones.
Overall, cell phone service by Verizon cost URI $46,292 in fiscal year 2007. Sprint use cost $91,731. URI employees can also be reimbursed for business calls made from a personal cell phone. This cost URI $9,340 for fiscal year 2007.
The service cost is offset by revenues from two cell phone antennas on campus. These antennas, located on the water tower, are paid for by Sprint. The lease for the antennas is $50,000 yearly. The antennas provide superior signal reliability on the Kingston campus, Wyman said.
In addition, the state of Rhode Island has a master price agreement with Sprint/Nextel and Verizon. These agreements provide the state with a discount on cell phones and service plans. Pricing for these plans is discounted off the price that an individual user would pay.
The university started using cell phones in 1999 to replace and complement landline telephones, pagers and radios. The older technology made it difficult to reach employees "in the field," according to J. Vernon Wyman, assistant vice president for Business Services, who said cell phones have allowed URI to run more efficiently.
"Our efficiency is much improved," Wyman said. "[Cell phones] have allowed us to stay in touch with our personnel."
The report said of the 368 cell phones, 228 have the capability of making outside calls. The other 140 only have "direct connect" capability and can only communicate among URI employee phones.
URI employees carrying a cell phone have to follow the plan set forth by Sharon Bell, URI's controller. The policy and procedures require URI employees with a cell phone to reimburse the university for any personal phone calls made from their URI cell phone. These personal calls must be reported as a fringe benefit on the employee's income tax.
Staff members with cell phones that have direct connect capability do not have this responsibility. This also allows URI to reimburse staff members for business calls made on their personal cell phones.
Overall, cell phone service by Verizon cost URI $46,292 in fiscal year 2007. Sprint use cost $91,731. URI employees can also be reimbursed for business calls made from a personal cell phone. This cost URI $9,340 for fiscal year 2007.
The service cost is offset by revenues from two cell phone antennas on campus. These antennas, located on the water tower, are paid for by Sprint. The lease for the antennas is $50,000 yearly. The antennas provide superior signal reliability on the Kingston campus, Wyman said.
In addition, the state of Rhode Island has a master price agreement with Sprint/Nextel and Verizon. These agreements provide the state with a discount on cell phones and service plans. Pricing for these plans is discounted off the price that an individual user would pay.