[Decision Concerning Possible Augmentation of ICC Appropriations]

The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) requested a decision regarding whether it improperly augmented its appropriations when it allowed private carriers to install computer equipment at ICC headquarters to give the public and ICC staff access to the carriers' electronically filed rate tariffs. GAO held that ICC: (1) did not improperly augment its appropriations, since it required carriers to provide public access to tariff information; and (2) properly charged carriers user fees for the space occupied by their equipment. Accordingly, ICC did not improperly augment its appropriations, and GAO recommended that ICC adopt necessary controls to reasonably ensure that the equipment is only used to access tariff information.