|
|
Article: GAO: FCC should improve program for rural service.(Notes)
- Article from:
- Arkansas Business
- Article date:
- July 21, 2008
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Journal Publishing, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
The Government Accountability Office said in a recent report that the Federal Communications Commission needs to improve its performance management and strengthen its oversight of its mandated high-cost program, which is supposed to give consumers in "rural, insular, and high-cost areas" access to services and rates that are "reasonably comparable" to those in urban areas.
The weaknesses the GAO found could contribute to excessive program expenditures, the report said.
The program was part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and in implementing the law, the FCC modified and expanded the high-cost program that provides funding to some ...