Agency cites fraud convictions tied to E-Rate funding for schools and libraries.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) suspended seven convicted criminals from participating in Universal Service Fund (USF) programs and began debarment proceedings tied to fraud cases involving the E-Rate program. The FCC said the cases included false filings, overbilling, fabricated documents, misuse of reimbursements, and schemes affecting schools and related institutions in multiple states.
“The FCC is committed to stopping bad actors from defrauding our USF programs, including those that target our E-Rate program as a way to line their own pockets. We must be good stewards of federal dollars. I want to thank our federal and state law enforcement partners for their work on these cases—and the FCC’s own Enforcement Bureau and Office of Inspector General for their commitment to ferreting out waste, fraud, and abuse from USF programs,” said Chairman Brendan Carr.
The FCC also recently approved rule changes intended to speed suspensions, expand accountability standards, and require participants and executives to disclose prior misconduct in certain FCC-supported programs.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For FCC Chairman Carr and commissioners as they enforce federal rules and seek to prevent fraud.
- For U.S. officials as they review schools and libraries that receive the technology support through federal programs.
Sources: Federal Communications Commission
