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Open Recommendations (32 total)

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.

Broadband Internet: FCC's Data Overstate Access on Tribal Lands

GAO-18-630
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission should obtain feedback from tribal stakeholders and providers on the effectiveness of FCC's 2012 statement to providers on how to fulfill their tribal engagement requirements to determine whether FCC needs to clarify the agency's tribal engagement statement. (Recommendation 3)
Open
As of August 2023, FCC has not yet determined whether it needs to clarify the agency's tribal engagement statement. Previously, FCC issued a Public Notice seeking comment on the effectiveness of its tribal engagement guidance but has not released any determinations based on the information it collected. In response, FCC's Native Nations Communications Task Force issued a report recommending that FCC provide additional guidance on tribal engagement. We will monitor FCC's future actions to identify whether FCC issues a decision on whether it needs to clarify its tribal engagement statement in response to the feedback it has received.

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 ensure high-cost performance measures align with key attributes of successful performance measures, including ensuring that measures clearly link with performance goals and have specified targets. (Recommendation 2)
Open
As of May 2024, FCC officials told us that FCC is working to provide details soon on its plan to implement this recommendation. When we confirm that FCC has taken additional action, 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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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission The Chair of FCC should request that State initiate a review of the General Guidance Document—in consultation with FCC, NTIA, and other relevant participants—and update and develop a means to continually monitor and update this document. (Recommendation 4)
Open
In a January 2022 letter, FCC affirmed its commitment to implement this recommendation. In August 2023, FCC officials told us that they had requested that State update the document and sent suggested revisions. We asked FCC officials to provide documentation of this request, which we are awaiting. We will continue to monitor FCC's efforts as it implements this recommendation.
Federal Communications Commission The Chair of FCC should establish procedures to help guide the design (including selection of acceptable assumptions and methodologies) of spectrum-sharing and potential-interference studies intended as U.S. contributions to WRC technical meetings, in consultation with NTIA, State, and other federal participants of the U.S. technical preparatory process. (Recommendation 5)
Open
FCC agreed to implement this recommendation from our June 2021 report on spectrum management and has re-iterated its commitment to doing so. Previously, FCC officials told us that FCC is committed to implementing this recommendation and said that actions to do so are a work in progress. As of February 2024, we are continuing to monitor FCC's actions to implement this recommendation in collaboration with NTIA. Establishing specific procedures for the design of spectrum-sharing and potential-interference studies intended as U.S. contributions to WRC technical meetings may help guide agencies' efforts to resolve disagreements like those experienced in the past.

Telecommunications: Additional Action Needed to Address Significant Risks in FCC's Lifeline Program

GAO-17-538
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission To address our findings regarding the USF, the Chairman of FCC should take action to respond to USAC requests for guidance and address pending requests concerning USF contribution requirements to ensure the contribution factor is based on complete information and that USF pass-through charges are equitable.
Open
FCC stated they are scheduled to implement this recommendation in fiscal year 2025.

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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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission The Chairman of FCC should ensure the high-cost performance measure for the goal of minimizing the universal service contribution burden on consumers and businesses takes into account user-fee leading practices, such as equity and sustainability considerations. (Recommendation 3)
Open
As of May 2024, FCC officials told us that FCC is committed to revisiting the overarching performance measures but did not provide a completion date. When we confirm that FCC has taken specific action related to this recommendation we will provide updated information.
Federal Communications Commission The Chairman of FCC should publicly and periodically report on the progress it has made for its high-cost program's performance goals, for example, by including relevant performance information in its Annual Broadband Deployment Report or the USF Monitoring Report. (Recommendation 4)
Open
As of May 2024, FCC officials told us that FCC is working to provide details soon on its plan to implement this recommendation. When we confirm that FCC has taken additional action, we will provide updated information.

Wireless Internet: FCC Should Assess Making Off-School-Premises Access Eligible for Additional Federal Support

GAO-19-564
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission should determine and execute a methodology for collecting and analyzing data—such as conducting a new pilot program regarding off-premises wireless access or analyzing other data—to assess the potential benefits, costs, and challenges of making off-premises wireless access eligible for E-rate program support, and publish the results of this analysis. (Recommendation 1)
Open
FCC informed GAO in February 2024 that it is currently taking steps to implement this recommendation and plans to have it implemented by September 2024.

Workforce Diversity: Hispanic Workers Are Underrepresented in the Media, and More Data Are Needed for Federal Enforcement Efforts

GAO-22-104669
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission The Chair of FCC should work with EEOC to develop a new memorandum of understanding that includes a plan for EEOC to routinely share data with FCC regarding discrimination charges filed against broadcasters and cable and satellite television operators. (Recommendation 2)
Open
FCC agreed with this recommendation and described their initial efforts to work collaboratively with EEOC to address it. As of April 2023, FCC officials reported that FCC held initial discussions with EEOC regarding the establishment of an agreement and will continue these discussions to determine how to best implement GAO's recommendation. We will monitor the agency's progress and close the recommendation when these efforts are complete.
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