USAC Board Committed to Improving IT and Security System Performance, Chairman Tells Pai
Universal Service Administrative Co.'s board "is fully committed to strengthening oversight and delivery of timely, reliable and secure systems needed to fully administer all aspects" of USF, said Chairman Brian Talbott in a letter the FCC posted Wednesday. He responded…
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to a Dec. 13 letter from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai expressing concerns about USAC's information technology and security systems and seeking the board's "unqualified commitment" to bolster oversight. Pai said system problems caused delays affecting important FCC deadlines, including for a fully functioning E-rate Productivity Center and the launch of a Lifeline national verifier. USAC's board shares Pai's concerns, Talbott wrote. He said new (see 1712130018) CEO Radha Sekar has "extensive" IT experience and USAC is "actively seeking a qualified Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer" to make improvements. On information security, he said the board pledges USAC, in collaboration with the FCC, "will ensure every effort is made to deliver timely and effective compliance with all applicable rules and requirements" -- including of the 2002 Federal Information Security Management Act -- on all projects. "Security compliance will be incorporated into USAC's information systems development and design process to avoid the kinds of pitfalls that historically beset the E-rate Productivity Center and contributed to the recent delay" of the Lifeline national verifier, he wrote.