United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2008-06-13 monographic deposited born digital 68 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-633 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-633 P0b002ee1803814d6 f:d08633 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-633 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-633 GAO-08-633 Broadband Competition Cost analysis Cost control Federal aid to localities Federal regulations Federal/state relations Internal controls Noncompliance Performance measures Policy evaluation Program management Risk assessment Telecommunication policy Telecommunications Telecommunications industry Telephones Universal service Program costs Program goals or objectives Other Written Product A82354

In the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act), the Congress said that consumers in "rural, insular, and high-cost areas" should have access to services and rates that are "reasonably comparable" to those in urban areas. To implement the 1996 Act, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) modified and expanded the high-cost program. The program provides funding to some telecommunications carriers, facilitating lower telephone rates in rural areas. GAO was asked to review (1) the effect that the program structure has on the level of support and types of services in rural areas, (2) the extent to which FCC has developed performance goals and measures for the program, and (3) the extent to which FCC has implemented internal control mechanisms. GAO reviewed relevant documents; interviewed federal and state officials, industry participants, and experts; conducted 11 state site visits; and conducted a survey of state regulators, available online at GAO-08-662SP. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-633/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-633.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-633/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-633.pdf GAO-08-633 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-633 Other Written Product GAO-08-633; Telecommunications: FCC Needs to Improve Performance Management and Strengthen Oversight of the High-Cost Program; Broadband Competition Cost analysis Cost control Federal aid to localities Federal regulations Federal/state relations Internal controls Noncompliance Performance measures Policy evaluation Program management Risk assessment Telecommunication policy Telecommunications Telecommunications industry Telephones Universal service Program costs Program goals or objectives Title 47 Section 153(37) Title 47 Section 214 Title 47 Section 214(e)(6) Title 47 Section 254(b)(4) Title 47 Section 254(c) Title 47 Section 254(c)(1) Title 47 Section 254(e) Title 47 Section 47 47 U.S.C. 153(37) 47 U.S.C. 214 47 U.S.C. 214(e)(6) 47 U.S.C. 254(b)(4) 47 U.S.C. 254(c) 47 U.S.C. 254(c)(1) 47 U.S.C. 254(e) 47 U.S.C. 47 Volume 110 Page 56 110 Stat. 56 Volume 118 Page 2809 118 Stat. 2809 Volume 121 Page 1844 121 Stat. 1844 Public Law 104-104 Public Law 107-300 Public Law 108-447 Public Law 110-161