Chairman Wheeler's Response to Sens Thune and Gardner Re: the Rural Health Care Program and the Schools and Libraries Program

On May 10, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) and Sen Cory Gardner (R-CO) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler regarding FCC oversight of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). The wrote, "In particular, we wish to express our concern that rate-payer dollars dedicated to programs under USAC's stewardship, such as the Rural Health Care (RHC) program, are going toward unnecessary or excessive consulting fees rather than their intended purpose - helping rural health care providers gain access to essential telecommunications and broadband services."

On May 26, Chairman Wheeler responded by noting that, "neither the RHC nor the E-rate program provides support of the sort described in your letter. Specifically, our rules do not allow RHC or E-rate funding to go to consultants that provide administrative support to program applicants." Chairman Wheeler followed by answering, point by point, every question raised by the Sens.