Bell South Dials Up an MAA Win

By Nick Wakeman, Senior Editor


OCT. 18 ? Bell South Corp. of Atlanta snared one of the few remaining General Services Administration Metropolitan Area Acquisitions when it won GSA's contract for local phone service in New Orleans.


The company won the 8 year, $75 million contract and will provide services to government agencies in New Orleans, the parishes of St. Charles, Jefferson and Orleans, and the towns of Belle Chasse, Chalmette, Aribi, Meraux, Violet and Poydras.


The contract brings to 19 the number of cities with MAA contracts. A contract for the Philadelphia area is expected in the coming weeks.


GSA expects to save $11 million with the New Orleans contract over current government rates, a savings of 30 percent. The contract covers standard voice service, switched data service and dedicated transmission service. New services can be added as they become available.