Full job description*Work Specification: PSTN & Broadband Line Audit (Contractor)
*1. Purpose


The purpose of this engagement is to undertake a comprehensive audit of all PSTN and broadband lines across Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) to:
*Validate whether each line is still required
*Identify ownership and accountability
*Confirm supplier/provider details
*Produce a clear, evidenced recommendation for retention or cessation
The audit will support cost reduction, service optimisation, and governance compliance.


2.1 Asset Identification*Compile a complete inventory of:
*PSTN lines
*Broadband circuits (including DSL, FTTC, FTTP, leased lines)
*Reconcile data from:
*Existing supplier invoices
*Internal records / CMDB (where available)
*Local site validation where required
2.2 Data Capture (Per Line)For each identified line, the contractor must capture:
*Line reference / circuit ID
*Physical location / site
*Business use (if identifiable)
*Associated service/system (if known)
*Service owner (named individual or role)
*Site contact / suite contact
*Supplier / provider
*Contract status (if known)
*Cost (where available)
2.3 Validation of RequirementFor each line:
*Engage with service owners / site contacts to confirm:
*Whether the line is still required
*Whether the service can be rationalised, migrated, or ceased
*Document:
*Confirmed required lines
*Lines with no identifiable owner
*Lines confirmed as redundant
3. Outputs & DeliverablesThe contractor shall produce the following:
3.1 Master Audit RegisterA structured dataset (Excel or agreed format) containing:
*Full list of all lines identified
*All captured attributes (as outlined above)
*Status classification:
*Keep
*Cease
*Under Review / Unknown
3.2 Audit Findings ReportA written report including:
*Summary of total lines identified
*Breakdown by status (Keep / Cease / Unconfirmed)
*Key risks and issues (e.g. orphaned lines, duplicate services)
*Opportunities for cost savings
*Recommendations for rationalisation
3.3 Cessation Schedule*Prioritised list of lines recommended for cease
*Grouped by:
*Supplier
*Site
*Service impact risk
4. Audit Trail & Evidence RequirementsThe contractor must maintain a robust and auditable evidence base, including:
*Record of all communications with service owners
*Decision logs for each line (retain vs cease)
*Supporting evidence for decisions (email confirmations, system checks, etc.)
*Version-controlled audit dataset
This aligns to LCC expectations for audit transparency, traceability, and governance, including:
*Full audit logs
*Evidence chain for decisions
*Clear ownership and change tracking
5. Methodology PSTN & Broadband Line Audit The contractor shall adopt a structured audit approach, including:
*Data discovery and reconciliation
*Stakeholder engagement
*Validation and challenge of existing records
*Evidence-based decision making
*Iterative refinement of the audit dataset
Audit activities must be clearly documented and repeatable, with defined roles, deliverables, and evidence requirements
6. Duration and Timeline*Total duration: 3 months
*Indicative phases:
*Phase 1: Discovery & data collection
*Phase 2: Validation & stakeholder engagement
*Phase 3: Final classification, reporting, and recommendations
7. Additional Requirement ? Soft Cease ActivityWhere sufficient time remains within the engagement:
*The contractor shall:
*Initiate soft cease requests with suppliers for lines confirmed as redundant
*Track status of cease requests
*Report progress and any constraints (e.g. contract lock-in, dependencies)
*All cease actions must:
*Be approved by LCC prior to submission
*Maintain a full audit trail of approvals and communications
8. Governance & Reporting*Weekly progress updates to LCC lead
*Regular reporting including:
*Progress against total lines
*Issues requiring escalation
*Emerging savings opportunities
*Final presentation of findings and recommendations
9. Roles and ResponsibilitiesContractor PSTN & Broadband Line Audit *Deliver all audit activities
*Maintain audit records and evidence
*Engage stakeholders
*Produce all outputs and reports
LCC PSTN & Broadband Line Audit *Provide access to available data sources
*Facilitate introductions to service owners / site contacts
*Approve cease recommendations
10. Success Criteria PSTN & Broadband Line Audit The engagement will be deemed successful where:
*A complete and validated inventory of lines exists
*Each line has:
*A confirmed status (keep/cease/unknown)
*Identified ownership (where possible)
*A clear list of lines to be ceased is agreed
*A full audit trail is maintained
*Opportunities for cost savings are clearly evidenced