FTS Chief Takes Buyout

Federal Telecommunications Service Commissioner Robert Woods, who oversaw a dramatic reduction in telephone rates for the federal government, announced Friday he will retire to take a job in the private sector.

The FTS, a division of the General Services Administration, manages governmentwide telecommunications services, including long-distance and local telecommunications service contracts and information systems support. Woods has headed the service since 1994.

GSA Chief Financial Officer Dennis Fischer will replace Woods.

During his tenure, Woods aggressively pushed for lower telecommunications rates for the federal government--and got them. Over the past year, Woods and FTS have been preparing for the FTS 2001 contracts, which will provide both long distance and local communications services.

The governmentwide FTS 2000 contracts held by AT&T Corp. and Sprint Communications Co. expire next year. As FTS commissioner, Woods has led development of a new acquisition strategy. After three years of preparation in the face of industry and congressional pressure, the GSA unit has not issued a final request for proposals. It hopes to award one or more eight-year FTS 2001 contracts next spring.

John Okay, FTS deputy commissioner, will also retire at the end of the year. He will be working for Woods at a private firm. The name of the firm has not been announced. Sandra Bates, FTS assistant commissioner for service delivery, will replace Okay.

Woods spent 29 years in the civil service, including four years as director of information resources management at the Transportation Department. Okay's 30 year government career included 12 years as an executive in the Agriculture Department.

Woods will take a buyout Dec. 1 and Okay will retire at the end of the year.