Chairwoman Rosenworcel established the Rural Broadband Accountability Plan, a new effort to monitor and ensure compliance for universal service high-cost programs including the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and Connect America Fund Phase II Auction. The FCC’s high-cost universal service program approved billions of new investment dollars to bring connectivity to consumers in areas lacking access to broadband. The new plan aimed to ensure these dollars are properly invested and produce new broadband services in these areas.
About the Universal Service Fund
The Universal Service Fund is paid for by contributions from providers including wireline and wireless companies, and interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol providers, including cable companies that provide voice services. The Fund provides support to eligible telecommunications carriers that serve high-cost areas. Under Chairwoman Rosenworcel, the FCC pursued a comprehensive strategy to ensure the program targeted support for broadband expansion and adoption, while also improving efficiency and eliminating waste. The Universal Service Administrative Company is an independent, not-for-profit corporation designated as the administrator of the federal Universal Service Fund by the FCC.
Increased Audits and Verification
The Rural Broadband Accountability Plan made a number of changes and enhancements to existing audit and verification procedures:
- The number of audits and verifications doubled in 2022 as compared to 2021 and included on-site audits as well as audits and verifications based upon identified risks and random selection.
- USAC conducted more verifications and reviews prior to a program’s first required deployment milestone.
- The largest dollar recipients were subject to an on-site audit in at least one state.
- Higher risk recipients were subject to additional audits and verifications.
Increased Program Transparency
For the first time, results of verifications, audits, and speed and latency performance testing were made public on USAC’s website.
- FCC Rural Broadband Accountability Plan
- Annual Filing Requirements
- Verification Reviews
- Connect America Fund Broadband Map
Broadband Deployment Alignment Plan
When notified of a carrier's failure to meet broadband deployment obligations, the Bureau took immediate action. This included:
- Ensuring the carrier notified relevant state broadband offices.
- Notifying the NTIA to initiate discussions. This allowed the state and NTIA to assess implications for the BEAD Program and similar programs.
- Exploring with the state and carrier if another entity could assume the obligations.
- If no alternative was found, notifying NTIA, RUS, and the Treasury Department. This ensured the affected area received priority consideration for other federal broadband funding.
- Making enforcement referrals where appropriate.
News
September 9, 2024 - Public Notice
WCB Announces Lumen RDOF Defaults and BDAP Procedures
July 10, 2024 - Public Notice
WCB Announces Certain RDOF CBGs Are Eligible for Other Funding
July 3, 2024 - Public Notice
WCB Provides Guidance for RDOF and CAF Phase II Support Recipients on Procedures for Provider Defaults to Ensure That Broadband Networks Are Deployed to All Consumers
May 10, 2024 - Public Notice
WCB Announces Certain RDOF CBGs are Eligible for Other Funding
April 16, 2024 - Public Notice
WCB Announces Certain CAF II/RDOF CBGs are Eligible for Other Funding
February 28, 2024 - Public Notice
WCB Announces Certain CAF II/RDOF CBGs are Eligible for Other Funding
December 20, 2023 - Public Notice
WCB Announces Conclusion of RDOF Auction 904 Application Review; Long-Form Applications Made Public
November 29, 2023 - Public Notice
WCB Provides Guidance to High-Cost Support Recipients Regarding Engagement with States and Tribal Governments
January 19, 2023 - Public Notice
Connect America Fund Phase II Auction Application Review Concludes; Long-Form Applications Made Public
December 16, 2022 - Public Notice
13th Auction 904 Ready-to-Authorize PN; Defaults PN
July 22, 2022 - News Release
FCC Proposes Fines of $4.3M Against 73 RDOF Applicants for Defaults
April 8, 2022 - Public Notice
WCB and RBATF Announce Availability of CAF II Auction Deployment Data
CAF II Auction No Deployment Letters: [Zip File]
January 28, 2022 - News Release
FCC Announces Over $1.2B for Rural Broadband in 32 States
January 28, 2022 - Fact Sheet
FCC Creates Rural Broadband Accountability Plan