THE PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS OF A SYSTEM DESIGN ARE COVERED. THESE ARE LISTINGS OF CONSIDERATIONS, THE APPLICATION OF WHICH MUST BE WEIGHED BY THE DESIGNER AND DETERMINED BY HIS NEEDS AND EXPERTISE. THE CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDE THOSE SUBJECTS THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED IF THE FINAL PRODUCT IS TO PERFORM AS A TOTAL SYSTEM. THE WAYS IN WHICH THEY RELATE TO EACH OTHER ARE SUGGESTED SO THAT THE SYSTEM DESIGNER CAN SCHEDULE, QUANTIFY, CONFIGURE, OR REJECT AS HE DEEMS APPROPRIATE. ONCE THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED, ITS FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS MUST BE DEFINED AND SPECIFIED. APPROACHES TO THIS TASK ARE DESCRIBED WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE APPLICABILITY OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPECIFICATIONS, THE TOPICS THAT REQUIRE SPECIFICATIONS AND THE WAYS IN WHICH THESE SPECIFICATIONS CAN BE DEVELOPED. BASED ON THE FOREGOING, THE MEANS FOR PREPARING A SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ARE PRESENTED. THE CONTENTS OF SUCH A PLAN ARE OUTLINED, AND ITS ROLE IN GUIDING AND MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS IS DESCRIBED. THE APPLICATION OF THE PLAN TO THE INTEGRATION OF ACTIVITIES BY RELATED AGENCIES IS ALSO DESCRIBED. TECHNIQUES, PRINCIPLES, AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS ARE DISCUSSED. THESE PRINCIPLES ARE DESIGNED TO HAVE UNIVERSAL APPLICATION, AND THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR LOCAL PROCUREMENT POLICIES AND REGULATIONS. RATHER, THEY PROVIDE GUIDANCE RELEVANT TO THE APPLICABILITY OF VARIOUS PROCUREMENT TECHNIQUES TO THE UNIQUE PROBLEMS OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS. THE FINAL CHAPTER DESCRIBES NEEDS, TECHNIQUES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH CONDUCTING THE EVALUATION PHASE OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION. FOR THE RESULTS OF A NATIONAL SURVEY OF STATE TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLANNING, SEE NCJ30785. TABULAR DATA, FOUR APPENDIXES, BIBLIOGRAPHY, GLOSSARY, AND REFERENCE LIST ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)