Inquiry Letter: Communications Towers
Abstract
The Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) is charged with preventing and detecting waste, fraud, and abuse in programs and operations relating to there construction of Afghanistan. Recently, my staff became aware that communications towers built using reconstruction funds are not being and may never be used for their intended purpose. This appears to be an ineffective expenditure of reconstruction funds. My staff learned that sometime during 2011-2012, the Department of State entered into a contract with MNM Communications Inc,1 for the design and construction of six communications towers, that, when completed, would be three times taller than any existing towers in their vicinity. The towers were to provide cell phone support and be made available to Afghan telecommunications providers for television and radio broadcasters, who it was anticipated would want to access these towers to extend their area of broadcast coverage in southwestern Afghanistan. The towers were to be placed in secure locations to help address the threat from insurgent attacks. Tower operation and maintenance, and leasing support, to be arranged for by the State Department under separate contract, would help ensure that the towers remained a sustainable asset for the Afghan people.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 25, 2014
- Accession Number
- AD1140307
Entities
People
- John Sopko
Organizations
- Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction