Current Support Brief
REORGANIZATION OF THE MINI5TRY OF COMMUNICATIONS IN THE USSR
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Office of Research and Reports
REORGANIZATION OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
IN THE USSR
The Soviet union-republic Ministry of Communications is evidently being reorganised, presumably as an all-union ministry. Onpril an official announcement was made that the Ministry of Communications of the RSFSR had been abolished, and it is probable that similar changes are underway in tho other republics. The elimination of communications ministries at the republic level is in largeecognition of the existing pervasiveness of the control of the union ministry. The reorgani cation probably is designed to dclineato more clearly lines of authority and responsibility and could serve to eliminate the competition for funds
and scarce resources that results from conflicts between local interests
and the national communications objectives. 1/
The Ministry of Communications evolved from the Peoplesof Post and Telegraph that was established Although tbe original organisationeries of minor changes in function and title, it retained its all-union character until the endhen itnion-republic ministry. Under the union-republic form of organizationhatinistry of Communications responsible for1 the USSRhole with attendant subordinate ministries ofin each of theepublicsho individual republicwere given little latitude for independent action. The functional operations of post and telecommunications enterprises within thewere largely controlled by the operational chief directorates of the union ministry in Moscow. The principal function of the republicconsisted of providing liaison between Moscow and the subordinate oblast (kray) directorates of communications in administrative matters. The republic ministries also were responsible for the initiation and coordination of communications plans at the republic level. During the drive for decentralizationlanning responsibilities weresomewhat, and oblast (kray) directorates of communications were given more freedom to initiate local plans. 2/
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Original document.
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