Gaps in FCC’s data analysis and reporting limit...

Gaps in FCC’s data analysis and reporting limit the commission’s ability to evaluate the USF high-cost program, demonstrate its effectiveness, and help ensure that the data collected will inform current and future reforms, a GAO report (http://1.usa.gov/Umzzpr) said Tuesday. “FCC has not traditionally demonstrated how high-cost funds were spent and the results of that funding because FCC had not collected data to do so,” the report said. Competitive carriers and consumers told the GAO the FCC should increase all carriers’ accountability for their use of high-cost funds by providing information on the results of the funding, the report said. FCC has made improvements to its data collection and presentation that could help it address some of these gaps, the report said, but the agency “has not indicated what information it will make publicly available on a regular basis in the future.” By improving the transparency and accountability of USF’s high-cost spending, “FCC and interested parties could better understand the effects of the reforms; determine those most successful in efficiently enhancing broadband availability, service quality, and capacity; and identify areas for improvement,” the report said. The FCC had no comment, but concurred with the findings, according to the report.