University-Funded Satellite Phones

University-Funded Satellite Phones: 

Available to: LSU Faculty and Staff conducting University business in remote locations.

Eligibility: An employee’s need for a University-provided satellite phone must be recommended by their supervisor and Dean, Director or Department Head and authorized by the Vice President for their area. Form AS-542 (click here to access the form) must then be filled out to request the device. For an employee to be eligible, they must meet at least one of the criterion items listed below.

Eligibility Criteria

• Protection of life and property – The job requires the performance of duties that could impact the employee's or the University's life and property.
• Law Enforcement – Job duties require the performance of law enforcement activities that may expose the employee or the general public to harm or danger.
• Personal Safety – Daily job duties require the performance of activities that may expose the employee or others to harm or danger.
• Public Welfare – Daily job duties require the performance of duties that may directly impact the safety, health and welfare of the general public. 
• Improved Efficiency and Effectiveness – Job duties require immediate access (inbound and/or outbound) to the public telephone network for recall, consultation, and/or decision making. 
• On Call – Duties require the employee to be immediately accessible after normal work hours, regardless of location.
• Mobile or In Transit – Duties require the employee to be mobile or in transit a large percentage of the business day, yet immediately accessible. 
• Lack of suitable communication alternatives – No other suitable communication alternatives (one-way or interactive pagers, two-way radio, or standard telephone service) are available due to the location or environmental conditions of the workplace. 

Departmental Responsibilities

Personal use of any University property is not allowed unless the administrator responsible for the property specifically permits such use. 

Departmental administrators are responsible for the following:

• Monitoring the use of the communication devices
• Ensuring the department has available budget to fund anticipated charges for the term of the agreement (monthly charges as well as cost to purchase and activate the equipment).
• Maintaining a departmental inventory of all satellite phones paid for by the department.
• Department Point of Contacts must contact ITS to update any changes (new users or phone numbers) in their list of users to avoid any delays in processing expense reports.