FCC Saves Taxpayers Over $9 Million Following Audit Reviews

The Federal Communications Commission ordered seven phone companies to repay over $9 million to the Universal Service Fund after audits discovered overpayments of federal support. In doing so, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau largely affirmed the findings of non-compliance by the Universal Service Administrative Company for these legacy rate-of-return carriers and ordered the support recovery. The complex regulatory and auditing processes associated with these legacy programs often lead to inefficiencies that can be avoided as the FCC increasingly works with carriers to transition them to more efficient fixed support alternatives and from circuit-switched to modern IP networks.