Telecommunications:
FCC Lacked Authority to Create Corporations to Administer Universal Service Programs
T-RCED/OGC-98-84: Published: Mar 31, 1998. Publicly Released: Mar 31, 1998.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
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GAO discussed the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) implementation of the universal service provisions contained in the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
GAO noted that: (1) FCC did not have the authority to create the corporations to carry out government functions and operate under FCC's rules; (2) under the Government Corporation Control Act, FCC needs explicit statutory authority to establish or acquire such entities, which the agency did not have; and (3) FCC's argument--that it did not create the corporations but rather directed an intermediary to create them--does not relieve FCC of the requirements of the Control Act.
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