1. Issue 2 - Quarter 2 (2001) After identifying that a need has been required for several years to update the current rudimentary assignment model used for Private Business Radio (PBR) Services the MASTS project is well underway. The previous issue gave an overview of the issues concerning the current method of assignment. It then went on to explain the benefits of MASTS and how it fits into the bigger picture. With the advent of resource issues the MASTS project was put on hold for several years but last year the importance of MASTS was identified and Nigel Gunn was appointed as the Business Project Manager. In May of last year the project was officially started and began the trip down the winding road leading to a powerful technical assignment tool. In September of last year the MASTS User Group was formed which would be the mind and soul of the users of the new frequency assignment tool. The group’s main objective is using their expertise to represent the users from the Local Offices and at RA Headquarters. The first task that the User Group undertook was to, by means of many technical workshops, identify and develop the User requirements. The Group was set a deadline of April 2001 and a draft document was created. This was only the beginning…… A new procurement project process has been imposed on all Government IT projects as a result of the McCartney Report. This was written as a direct response to the issues concerning the Passport Office fiasco. Although this has set-back the project with all involved having to understand and implement new procedures, this is for all our benefit and ensures that there are regular reviews at key stages throughout the project. It also requires one single person to be ultimately responsible for the project known as the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO). This will hopefully provide a safety net for all new IT projects in Government. The Strategic Business Case has been written to identify the business benefits of undertaking and implementing a new technical assignment tool. Together with the already developed document produced by the MASTS User Group it will now be possible for our IT colleagues (Radio Spectrum International -RSI) to undertake a feasibility study which will investigate all the options available to provide a solution. The MASTS User Group will now be moving on to their next task which will be to help RSI understand our technical requirements completely and answer any questions raised. After the feasibility study has been completed it will be down to the SRO and his Project Board to agree and approve one of the recommended options. The Full Business Case can then be completed and then submitted to the IS Panel who will approve the project if they are at agreement. This will now secure funding for the project and allow any development work to begin. The approved option will then be undertaken by RSI, our IT strategic partners. Thanks for reading and in the next issue we should hopefully have news of the outcome of the feasibility study. Meanwhile if you have any questions then please contact: Nigel Gunn nigel.gunn@ra.gsi.gov.uk Tel: 020 7211 0348.