Abstract : The DCS (Defense Communications System) consists of an interconnected global system of transmission and switching center facilities whose primary goal is to provide longhaul communications for the Department of Defense. The analysis presented in this report answers many questions and provides insight into the system control problem but also raises many new issues and questions. The need for a system control upgrade and the advantages of a decentralized near-real-time system control architecture over the present system are demonstrated. These advantages include improvements in performance and survivability/reliability and reductions in manpower requirements and life cycle cost. The appropriate procurement investment has been narrowed to an acceptable range, however, the specific recommended investment remains to be determined.