The FCC Wireline Bureau asked for comments by Jan. 5 on a plan by...
The FCC Wireline Bureau asked for comments by Jan. 5 on a plan by the Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC) for resolving questionable findings of E-rate program audits. The FCC directed USAC to develop the plan and provide deadlines…
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so audits are resolved quickly. USAC’s plan calls for reviews of audit findings in 14 days generally, and no longer than 60 days. The plan has 3 ways of resolving audit findings: (1) Clearing it because the fund applicant provides adequate documentation or other evidence. (2) Determining it’s not a program violation after USAC’s Schools & Libraries Div. (SLD) evaluates whether in a rule in effect for the funding year at issue was clearly violated. If SLD is uncertain it turns to the Wireline Bureau for guidance. (3) Determining it’s a violation. After review by the USAC Audit Committee, a process begins to recovery “improperly disbursed funds.” The plan describes the paths and schedules for review by various parties and describes follow-up action with contractors. It adds that law enforcement referrals are made by USAC’s gen. counsel under criteria set by USAC’s board. “In general, the criteria… are whether the auditee was determined to be not compliant with program rules and whether the audit findings are based on serious rule violations with potential criminal implications.” -- (CC Doc. 02-6)