The FCC wants comment on how to strengthen Universal Service Fund...
The FCC wants comment on how to strengthen Universal Service Fund management, administration and oversight, it said in a notice of inquiry. The FCC also seeks input on how to “define more clearly the goals of the USF,” new…
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ways to gauge performance and whether to write new rules on document retention and enforcement. The notice, adopted Aug. 15 and released Friday, was to be voted on at the Aug. 22 FCC meeting but commissioners voted early, 5- 0. The agency hopes to build on results of a 2007 Inspector General audit, it said. The FCC already has moved to strengthen oversight, but is “concerned about the error rates the Inspector General identified,” it said. Among other goals, the FCC wants to prevent improper USF payments and fight waste, fraud and abuse, the agency said. “To ensure continued success, we must remain committed to monitoring, auditing, reviewing and reinforcing this program,” Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said. “Part of that process is being responsive to criticisms of the Commission’s management.” The NOI is “quite timely, if not overdue,” said Commissioner Michael Copps.