Telecommunications: FCC Has Reformed the High-Cost Program, But Oversight and Management Could Be Improved.

摘要

The high-cost program within the Universal Service Fund (USF) provides subsidies to telecommunications carriers that serve rural and other remote areas with high costs of providing telephone service. The annual program cost has grown from $2.6 billion in 2001 to over $4 billion in 2011, primarily funded through fees added to consumers phone bills. The program is managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which noted that providing universal access to broadband is the universal service challenge of our time. Accordingly, FCC made changes to the program to make funds available to support both telephone and broadband. GAO previously reported that using USF monies for broadband could cause the size of the fund to greatly expand unless FCC improved its management and oversight to ensure the program's cost-effectiveness. This requested report examines FCCs (1) plans for repurposing the high-cost program for broadband, and (2) plans to address previously identified management challenges as it broadens the programs scope. GAO reviewed and analyzed pertinent FCC orders, associated stakeholder comments, and reports related to USF and interviewed federal and industry stakeholders, as well as economists and experts.