Cellular Phone Policies
Introduction
The use and payment for cellular phone service by city employees continues to be the subject of numerous questions to MRSC. This list of resources contains information and sample policies for a city to adopt in order to utilize cellular phones in a manner that will satisfy legal considerations and the Office of the State Auditor.
There are two primary patterns for allowing city employees to utilize cellular phones. One option is for the city to purchase cellular phones and then allow city employees to make business related calls as outlined in a city policy on use of cellular phones The second is for the employee to purchase the cellular phones and request reimbursement from the city for business calls.
If the first option is followed and the city purchases and owns the phones, then the city should adopt some usage policies. There are examples of such usage policies below.
If the second option is followed and the employee purchases the cellular phone, then it is necessary to develop an appropriate agreement between the city and the employee regarding use of the phone. Several such sample personal cellular phone agreements are included below. These agreements follow a form which has been approved by the Office of the State Auditor and the Office of the Attorney General.
Articles
- "Do you use Cellular Telephones?" Washington Finance Officers Association's Newsletter, November 21, 1996
- Letter and Bulletin from State Auditor's Office, March 13, 1996
- Memorandum to State Auditor's Office from State Attorney General's Office, February 2, 1993
- Cellular Telephone Use Guidelines from Department of Information Services, September 1993
- Memorandum and Guidelines for Cellular Phone Acquisition and Employee Cellular Use from AWC, December 14, 1993
Policies and Procedures
- Adams County Cellular Telephone Policy May 2003
- Bellevue Cellular Telephone policy (nd)
- Bothell Electronic Communications - Computer Equipment, Software and the Internet; E-mail; Telephones & Cellular Phones; Other Electronic Devices October 2000
- Everett Cellular Telephone Policy (
221 KB), October 2003
- Kirkland Wireless Communication Device Policy June 2004
- Lake Stevens Administrative Procedure (113 KB), July 1995
- Port Angeles Personnel Policy Manual, Section 11.04 - City Owned Cellular Phones (74 KB), 1992
- Richland Cellular Telephone Policy, Index No. 3230 (404 KB), July 15, 1994
- Spokane Wireless Communication Devices (Cell Phones)(339 KB), June 2009
- Vancouver Policies and Procedures Section 4.4 - Cellular Phones (87 KB, no date)
- Willamette University Cellular Telephone Policy May 2002