ppropriate for further work because you are now ready to take constructive, proactive ownership and management of communications cost in the enterprise you're part of. Here's a high- level list of topics and an explanation of what needs to be done, how to go about it, and a view of value or impact on the organization's ability to accomplish its mission. CONTINUING THROUGH TO OVERALL COMMUNICATIONS COST MANAGEMENT Machine-based invoice validation is a required first step in successful, long-term continuing cost management. Don't forget the first objective is to reduce expenses and at the same time build a system to maintain good expense control. Overall, the work involves good accounting practices to analyze, classify, and quantify direct and indirect expense and capital investment in areas such as each of the following: Cable TV service Cable modem service (Internet access) Cellular telephone service Conferencing services Content distribution and delivery Fax machines Hosting facility use Internet access facilities Pagers PRACTICAL IP AND TELECOM FOR BROADCAST ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS Private line data services Telephone service Website developers Although it's tempting to make judgments about the value of each while making and completing a list, resist this inclination in favor of focusing on defining the details of how many, how much, how used, and by whom on the first pass. Try to make the list as complete and definitive as possible in terms of equipment, stand-alone applica- tion software, facilities, and services. Another important point is to capture the function or functions of each, and do your best to map that function to a business process because sooner or later it will be time to evaluate its impact on the business compared to other expenses or investments. Get answers to the following questions: How are communications circuits, equipment, facilities, and ser- vices being used? What are the components of each circuit, piece of equipment, facility, or service? What are the units of usage and attendan