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Open Recommendations (33 total)

Telecommunications: FCC Should Take Additional Action to Manage Fraud Risks in Its Program to Support Broadband Service in High-Cost Areas

GAO-20-27
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission The Chairman of FCC should design and implement an antifraud strategy for the high-cost program with specific control activities, based upon the results of fraud-risk assessments and a corresponding fraud risk profile, as provided in GAO's fraud risk framework. (Recommendation 3)
Open
As of February 2024, FCC provided documentation related to its antifraud strategy that we are reviewing. When we confirm that FCC's actions address our recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Broadband Speed: FCC Should Improve Its Communication of Advanced Telecommunications Capability Assessments

GAO-23-105655
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission FCC's chair should provide consistent communication in its reporting of how it determines whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed and when updating the related metrics it uses to assess broadband speeds and deployment. For example, FCC could report to the public the scope and steps of its research and analysis, the data and analysis used to support its assertions, and the rationale for why it agrees or disagrees with stakeholder comments it receives. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In a November 2023 letter, the FCC Chairwoman noted that transparency and consistency are important principles to FCC as it determines whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion. She further noted that, in October 2023, FCC issued its Notice of Inquiry for its latest assessment of broadband deployment. In that notice, FCC sought comments on ways it can provide consistent and transparent communications to the public about how it reviews, and determines whether to update, the advanced telecommunications capability evaluation metrics. When FCC issues its report on this proceeding, we will review FCC's analysis of these comments and what conclusions and decisions the agency reaches regarding changes to its reporting in accordance with our recommendation.

5G Deployment: FCC Needs Comprehensive Strategic Planning to Guide Its Efforts

GAO-20-468
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission The Chairman of FCC should develop, in coordination with NTIA and other relevant stakeholders, specific and measurable performance goals—with related strategies and measures—to manage spectrum demands associated with 5G deployment. (Recommendation 1)
Open
As of February 2024, FCC officials said this recommendation is being considered by FCC's Chair with a planned implementation in fiscal year 2025. FCC agreed that it should set and achieve goals to facilitate the deployment of 5G, including making sufficient spectrum available. FCC indicated that its current 5G plan strikes a balance between setting goals and preserving flexibility without setting artificial benchmarks. GAO continues to believe that FCC can work with NTIA and other relevant stakeholders to set measurable performance goals with related strategies and measures without resorting to artificial benchmarks. GAO will continue to monitor FCC's progress in setting measurable performance goals.

Broadband: FCC Should Analyze Small Business Speed Needs

GAO-21-494
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission We are recommending that the Chair of FCC solicit input from stakeholders and conduct analysis of small businesses broadband speed needs and incorporate the results of this analysis into its determination of the benchmark for broadband. (Recommendation 1)
Open
FCC began the process of addressing this recommendation in its October 2023 Notice of Inquiry to begin its latest proceeding to review the state of broadband deployment. In the notice, FCC sought comments from the public on what needs of small businesses should be taken into consideration in its determination of a new speed benchmark. We will review FCC's resulting report once it is published to determine whether FCC has implemented our recommendation.

Telecommunications: FCC Should Take Additional Action to Manage Fraud Risks in Its Program to Support Broadband Service in High-Cost Areas

GAO-20-27
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission The Chairman of FCC should assess the model-based support mechanism to determine the extent to which it produces reliable cost estimates. (Recommendation 4)
Open
As of February 2024, FCC officials said FCC intends to implement this recommendation and is considering ways to improve the model-based support mechanism for rate-of-return carriers participating in the high-cost program. FCC does not expect this recommendation to be implemented until fiscal year 2028. We will continue to review FCC's efforts related to this recommendation, including FCC efforts, if any, to verify the model's cost estimates.
Federal Communications Commission The Chairman of FCC should consider whether to make use of the model-based support mechanism mandatory depending on the results of the assessment. (Recommendation 5)
Open
As of February 2024, FCC reported that it was considering ways to improve the model-based support mechanism for rate-of-return carriers participating in the high-cost program. FCC indicated that any such improvements may help facilitate the transition of carriers from legacy support mechanisms to the model-based support mechanism. Although FCC expects to implement this recommendation, officials said it would likely not be fully implemented until fiscal year 2028. We will continue to monitor FCC's progress and efforts in regard to this recommendation.

5G Deployment: FCC Needs Comprehensive Strategic Planning to Guide Its Efforts

GAO-20-468
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission The Chairman of FCC should develop specific and measurable performance goals—with related strategies and measures—to determine the effects 5G deployment and any mitigating actions may have on the digital divide. (Recommendation 2)
Open
As of February 2024, FCC officials said this recommendation is being considered by FCC's Chair with a planned implementation in fiscal year 2025. When GAO confirms that FCC has taken efforts to address this recommendation, GAO will provide updated information.

Spectrum Management: Agencies Should Strengthen Collaborative Mechanisms and Processes to Address Potential Interference

GAO-21-474
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission The Chair of FCC should establish clearly defined and agreed-upon processes for making decisions on spectrum-management activities that involve other agencies, particularly when consensus cannot be reached, in consultation with NTIA and—as appropriate—State. (Recommendation 1)
Open
FCC agreed to implement this recommendation and has taken steps to do so. Previously, FCC and NTIA signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding that, according to FCC officials, is part of establishing an agreed-upon process for making decisions on spectrum-management activities that involve other agencies. As the MOU focuses on FCC's coordination with NTIA, we are awaiting additional information from FCC about processes for resolving conflicts with other agencies. In August 2023, FCC officials explained that NTIA is the lead agency for communicating about spectrum issues with other federal agencies, but agreed to contact NTIA about whether FCC should further clarify its role in federal spectrum management and related communication with other federal agencies. We will continue to monitor FCC's efforts as it implements this recommendation in consultation with NTIA. By establishing clearly defined and agreed-upon processes, FCC will be better positioned to work collaboratively to make important spectrum-management decisions, particularly when consensus cannot be reached.

Telecommunications: FCC Should Enhance Performance Goals and Measures for Its Program to Support Broadband Service in High-Cost Areas

GAO-21-24
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission The Chairman of FCC should revise the high-cost performance goals so that they are measurable and quantifiable. (Recommendation 1)
Open
As of May 2023, FCC officials told us that FCC revised the high-cost performance goals as part of its "Future of USF" proceeding involving the high-cost program. Specifically, FCC adopted universal deployment, affordability, adoption, availability, and equitable access throughout the U.S. as its universal service goals for broadband. We told FCC these broad goals do not meet the criteria that performance goals should be objective, quantifiable, and measureable, and that these characteristics are what distinguish broad program goals from performance goals. When we confirm that FCC has taken additional action related to this recommendation we will provide updated information.

Spectrum Management: Agencies Should Strengthen Collaborative Mechanisms and Processes to Address Potential Interference

GAO-21-474
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission The Chair of FCC should clarify and further identify shared goals or outcomes for spectrum-management activities that involve collaboration and ways to monitor and track progress, in consultation with NTIA and—as appropriate—State. (Recommendation 2)
Open
FCC agreed to implement this recommendation and has taken steps to do so. Previously, FCC and NTIA signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding that, according to FCC officials, is part of clarifying and further identifying shared goals for spectrum-management activities that involve collaboration. In August 2023, FCC officials told us they have established a process to monitor and track progress on collaborative efforts, and we requested documentation of that process. We will continue to monitor FCC's efforts as it implements this recommendation in consultation with NTIA. By clarifying shared goals and ways to monitor and track progress, FCC will be better positioned to work collaboratively on spectrum-management activities, particularly when overcoming conflicting interests.
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