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Open Recommendations

Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program: Feedback Should Be Provided to Applicants Receiving Equitable Distribution Grants

GAO-23-106824
Aug 24, 2023
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Telecommunications and Information Administration The Administrator of NTIA should provide applicants that receive equitable distribution grants in the first round of TBCP with constructive feedback—by providing debriefings or technical assistance—to help these applicants improve their applications for the second round of TBCP funding. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Emergency Alerts: NOAA Should Take Additional Actions to Help Ensure Tsunami Alerts Reach Those at Risk

GAO-23-105961
May 16, 2023
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The NOAA Administrator should assess the extent to which NOAA Weather Radio coverage extends to populated areas at risk of tsunamis, and publicly communicate the results of the assessment. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The NOAA Administrator, in collaboration with FCC and FEMA, should clarify and document the agencies' responsibilities and a decision-making process for determining how to use IPAWS to deliver tsunami alerts to EAS. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

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

GAO-23-105655
Apr 25, 2023
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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
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Affordable Broadband: FCC Could Improve Performance Goals and Measures, Consumer Outreach, and Fraud Risk Management

GAO-23-105399
Jan 25, 2023
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7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Communications Commission The Chair of FCC should ensure that ACP performance goals and measures align with key attributes of effective performance goals and measures. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In a July 2023 letter, FCC said it is working to implement this recommendation and noted that its efforts include surveys, metrics, and outreach to track ACP progress in reducing the digital divide, increasing program participation, and measuring application difficulty. We will continue to monitor FCC's progress implementing this recommendation.
Federal Communications Commission The Chair of FCC should revise the language translation process (for both "in-house" and contracted translations, as appropriate) for developing ACP non-English outreach materials to include the following steps: (1) develop a plan for designing and producing translated products; (2) incorporate review and quality assurance steps into the translation process and document completion of these steps during each process; (3) develop and test the products with others who represent the intended audience; and (4) update and finalize the products based on development and testing results. (Recommendation 2)
Open
In a July 2023 letter, FCC said it is working to implement this recommendation, specifically by developing a translation plan designed to promote the ACP in 12 languages. We will continue to monitor FCC's progress implementing this recommendation.
Federal Communications Commission The Chair of FCC should develop a consumer outreach plan, which aligns with leading practices for consumer outreach planning, to educate eligible consumers about ACP. (Recommendation 3)
Open
In a July 2023 letter, FCC said it is working to implement this recommendation and noted that its outreach efforts continue to make progress in educating consumers about ACP that aligns with leading practices for consumer outreach planning. We will continue to monitor FCC's progress implementing this recommendation.
Federal Communications Commission The Office of the Managing Director should develop and implement processes to monitor antifraud controls related to preventing duplicate subscribers in ACP. (Recommendation 6)
Open
In a July 2023 letter, FCC said it had taken corrective action to address this recommendation. In June 2023, FCC provided us documentation to address this recommendation that we reviewed. We sent the agency additional clarifying questions about their efforts and are awaiting a response. We will continue to monitor FCC's efforts to implement this recommendation.
Federal Communications Commission The Office of the Managing Director should develop and implement processes to monitor antifraud controls related to subscriber identity verification in ACP. (Recommendation 7)
Open
In a July 2023 letter, FCC said it had taken corrective action to address this recommendation. In June 2023, FCC provided us documentation to address this recommendation that we reviewed. We sent the agency additional clarifying questions about their efforts and are awaiting a response. We will continue to monitor FCC's efforts to implement this recommendation.
Federal Communications Commission The Office of the Managing Director should develop and implement processes to monitor antifraud controls related to subscriber address validation in ACP. (Recommendation 8)
Open
In a July 2023 letter, FCC said it had taken corrective action to address this recommendation. In June 2023, FCC provided us documentation to address this recommendation that we reviewed. We sent the agency additional clarifying questions about their efforts and are awaiting a response. We will continue to monitor FCC's efforts to implement this recommendation.
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