Chairman Carr’s Response to Members of Congress Regarding GAO’s Report Entitled “Broadband Programs: Agencies Need to Further Improve Their Data Quality and Coordination Efforts”, GAO-25-107207

The Government Accountability Office's (GAO) “Broadband Programs: Agencies Need to Further Improve Their Data Quality and Coordination Efforts.” (Report No. GAO-25-107207) examined three areas: 1) sources of broadband availability information used by federal agencies and the quality of data in the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map; 2) federal agencies’ coordination efforts and the extent to which they align with leading interagency collaboration practices that GAO has identified; and 3) federal agencies’ coordination of broadband funding with state and territory governments. GAO made six recommendations to assist the Commission in interagency coordination and data collection for the FCC maps.  Specifically, GAO  recommended that the FCC: (1) formally document the FCC’s internal policies and procedures for conducting validations, verifications, and audits of the broadband availability data the FCC collects and making enforcement referrals; (2) assess and document the results of its Broadband Data Collection monitoring to identify any deficiencies in its data validations, verifications, audits, and enforcement referral processes; (3) take steps to remedy any deficiencies it identifies in the FCC’s monitoring of Broadband Data Collection validations, verifications, audits, and enforcement referrals; (4) clearly define and document, in collaboration and agreement with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), as appropriate, the scope of what constitutes the “covered data” referenced in the agencies’ information-sharing memorandum of understanding; (5) clearly define and document, in collaboration with NTIA, USDA, and Treasury, as appropriate, timelines for agencies to submit data on funded awards to the Broadband Funding Map, including any changes to awards; and (6) clearly define and formally document, in collaboration and agreement with NTIA, USDA, and Treasury, as appropriate, the agencies’ broadband funding de-duplication process. The FCC takes its duty to develop the most comprehensive and accurate broadband maps ever built in the United States seriously, and I appreciate the recommendations GAO provided in the report. While we continue to refine the accuracy of our maps through the iterative processes of biannual reporting, consumer challenges, verifications, and audits, we are also committed to reviewing and improving our processes to validate the underlying data that is reflected on the maps. We are pleased to inform you that the FCC is actively addressing and incorporating GAO’s six recommendations into our processes and interagency coordination of federal broadband funding projects.