GAO Sees FCC Low-Income Program as Getting Out of Hand

摘要

The number of subscibers to the FCC's Low-Income Program jumped by nearly 1.5 nmillion from 2008 to 2009, and payments from the fund increased almost $180 million, the nGAO said. Enrollment had been "relatively stable" 2005-2008, leveling off at about 7.1 million nsubscribers and about $823 million in payments, the agency said. The GAO attributed the nspike to a decision by the Universal Service Administrative Co. to hand out prepaid wireless nphones to recipients. Without a cap, the program's budget will reach $1.4 billion by year-end, nthe GAO said. The FCC "has taken limited steps" to institute controls over the fund, but n"these steps do not fully align with useful practices," it said. The GAO urged the commission nand USAC to impose a strict control system.