Wicker, Thune Fault Commerce Dept. IG on Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Oversight
Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Communications Subcommittee ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., criticized Commerce Department Inspector General Peggy Gustafson for what they say is a failure to adequately do oversight of NTIA's tribal broadband connectivity program.…
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Congress mandated when it authorized the program via the FY 2021 appropriations and COVID-19 aid law (see 2012220061) that the Commerce IG "review TBCP grants awarded by NTIA and make recommendations to address any waste, fraud or abuse with respect to these grants," with the first two reports due May 16 and Nov. 16 this year, Wicker and Thune said in a letter to Gustafson. The IG office's failure to meet those deadlines "is deeply concerning for two reasons: 1) NTIA has a long and well-documented history of misusing federal dollars when attempting to expand broadband access; and 2) your office has had a significant and ongoing problematic history." Congress has also "recently heard testimony of funds being used to overbuild existing broadband networks which makes it even more alarming your office would disregard its oversight responsibilities," the GOP leaders said. They want Gustafson to "provide a specific timeline" by Dec. 16 for providing the reports to Congress. Commerce didn't comment. Thune earlier this week began a bid for stronger oversight of all federal broadband programs funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other recent measures (see 2212060067).