SBC Global Services, Winstar Win MAA Contracts in Detroit

SBC Global Services Inc., San Antonio, and Winstar Communications Inc., New York, both won local telecommunications service contracts for federal customers in Detroit. Detroit is the 23rd market for which contracts have been awarded in the General Services Administration's Metropolitan Area Acquisition program.

The estimated value of the eight-year contracts is $23 million, which represents savings of as much as 19 percent over current government prices.

Tom Howder, director of GSA's Federal Technology Service Office of Regional Services, said that more than 32,000 users have been moved to MAA contracts in other locations, and that five cities have completed the transition process.

Transition to MAA services in New York has been slowed by efforts to restore basic service in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. MAA contracts include standard voice service as well as switched data service and dedicated transmission service. The contracts can be refreshed to include new services as they become commercially available.