Although cell phones have been around for a while, their popularity and the role they play in our daily lives in recent years has skyrocketed, which has sparked questions from local government officials: Should local governments issue cell phones or offer reimbursements? Should smart phones be allowed in meetings? Are smart phones now blurring the lines between work and play in the office?

The answers to these questions are changing with every passing year, and the change can be seen when you compare a cell phone policy from the early 2000s to ones from more recent years. Issuing cell phones used to be standard practice, but now some local governments are exploring BYOD (bring your own device) policies.

There is a lot to think about when it comes to crafting a cell phone policy that addresses all of these concerns and that provides the flexibility to be readily changed as cell phone use continues to evolve.

General Cell Phone Policies

• “Cell Phone Policy” is a 2008 document from Chula Vista, California, providing details of the local government’s cell phone policy.
• “Cell Phone Policy” is a 2005 policy from Painesville, Ohio.
•  “Cell Phone Stipend Policy” is a sample document from Kalispell, Montana, that lays out how its local government uses cell phone stipends.
• “Cell Phone Allowance Policy” is a 2009 document from Delaware, Ohio,  explaining the tax and IRS issues related to work-provided cellphones, as well as providing a solution to these issues.
• “Employee Cell Phone Allowance Policy” is from Brentwood, Tennessee, and covers the eligibility and allowance given for cell phones by the local government.
• “Cell Phone Stipend Policy” is a 2012 document from Kalispell, Montana, and lays out the purpose, eligibility, plan, employee rights and responsibilities, and cancellation of the local government’s cell phone stipend policy. 

Cell Phone Usage Documents

• “Simplifying the Complex World of Mobile Device Management” discusses the importance of having a formal cell phone policy in place and how a little return-on-investment tracking when it comes to cell phone policies can save a local government a lot of money and increase productivity.

Questions Related to Cell Phone Policy and Usage

• “Cell Phone Allowances vs. Issuing Cell Phones”: eight local government officials weigh in and offer supporting documents on this cell phone policy decision.
• “Cell Phone--Village Issue or Personal Reimbursement”: three local government officials participated in this discussion and provide example documents from their local governments.
• “Cell Phones”: nine local government officials discuss what portion of the cost of cell phones and cell phone usage is the employee's responsibility.
• “Stipends for Personal Cell Phone Use for City Business” covers the reception of using personal devices for work e-mails and phone calls by different local governments, and how the local governments' determined stipend amounts.
• “Use of Smart Phones/Texting During Meetings” local government officials weigh in on policies on the use of cell phones during meetings and how they handle texting situations.

Bring Your Own Device Policies

• “What’s BYOD…. And Why It Might Make You Want to BYOB” does a great job laying out the pros and cons of device policies that some local governments are considering.
• “Mobile Devices Bring Benefits but Raise Management Issues” goes through the different types of technology that local governments can consider when using BYOD (bring your own device) policies as ways to boost productivity.

If your local government has an innovative cell phone usage policy or management technique, please share it with the Knowledge Network. With almost 50,000 users on the Network, you have the opportunity to make a huge impact.