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Telecommunications: Concerns Regarding the Structure and FCC's Management of the E-Rate Program

GAO-05-439T Published: Mar 16, 2005. Publicly Released: Mar 16, 2005.
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Highlights

Since 1998, the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) E-rate program has committed more than $13 billion to help schools and libraries acquire Internet and telecommunications services. Recently, allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse by some E-rate program participants have come to light. As steward of the program, FCC must ensure that participants use E-rate funds appropriately and that there is managerial and financial accountability surrounding the funds. This testimony is based on GAO's February 2005 report GAO-05-151, which reviewed (1) the effect of the current structure of the E-rate program on FCC's management of the program, (2) FCC's development and use of E-rate performance goals and measures, and (3) the effectiveness of FCC's program oversight mechanisms.

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Topics

AccountabilityFraudFunds managementInternal controlsInternetLibrariesPerformance measuresProgram abusesProgram evaluationProgram managementPublic schoolsRisk managementStrategic planningTelecommunicationsTelecommunications industryE-rateUniversal service fund