Reports & Testimonies
Recommendations Database
GAO’s recommendations database contains report recommendations that still need to be addressed. GAO’s priority recommendations are those that we believe warrant priority attention. We sent letters to the heads of key departments and agencies, urging them to continue focusing on these issues. Below you can search only priority recommendations, or search all recommendations.
Our recommendations help congressional and agency leaders prepare for appropriations and oversight activities, as well as help improve government operations. Moreover, when implemented, some of our priority recommendations can save large amounts of money, help Congress make decisions on major issues, and substantially improve or transform major government programs or agencies, among other benefits.
As of October 25, 2020, there are 4812 open recommendations, of which 473 are priority recommendations. Recommendations remain open until they are designated as Closed-implemented or Closed-not implemented.
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Results:
Subject Term: "Internet services"
GAO-19-564, Jul 29, 2019
Phone: (202) 512-2834
Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Status: Open
Comments: FCC officials informed us in July 2020 that FCC plans to implement this recommendation by completing an evaluative report on the E-rate pilot program. While FCC planned to implement this recommendation by July 2020, there have been delays related to COVID-19.
GAO-19-75, Nov 14, 2018
Phone: (202) 512-2834
Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Status: Open
Comments: As of July 2020, FCC said it will consider ways to collect data on the extent that tribal entities are obtaining and accessing spectrum, including updating application forms to provide for voluntary submission of this information. FCC noted that this is an ongoing activity with no specific completion date.
Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Status: Open
Comments: As of July 2020, FCC indicated that they believe this was implemented by the tribal priority window for the 2.5 GHz spectrum bands, but has yet to provide documentation to GAO. We will continue to monitor FCC actions in this area.
Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Status: Open
Comments: As of July 2020, FCC said it was engaged in a multi-year project to modernize the Universal Licensing System (ULS), which is the online system that contains electronic records of all wireless spectrum licenses. FCC said it would transition ULS to a new platform that will provide more consistent performance, easier access to information, and enhanced functionality; the ULS modernization is an ongoing activity that FCC believes will be completed by December 2021.
GAO-18-682, Sep 28, 2018
Phone: (202) 512-2834
Agency: Department of Agriculture
Status: Open
Comments: In April 2020, RUS officials told us that they were documenting their tribal outreach efforts and the feedback collected on tribal needs related to the RUS broadband programs, and that they would provide this information to us when it is complete. Once we receive and review this information, we will update the status of this recommendation.
Phone: (202) 512-2834
Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Status: Open
Comments: FCC officials said they plan to implement by September 2021. They believe the rec is addressed by the new Digital Opportunity Data Collection (DODC) program and associated platform. FCC agreed that while the DODC is a general information improvement effort, it will also cover tribal lands and address this rec.
Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Status: Open
Comments: FCC believes the Digital Opportunity Data Collection program will satisfy this recommendation in part by the data verification process, which has a crowd-sourced component. The data validation is not specific to tribal input, but FCC believes the process would help verify all data as accurate and thus satisfy our recommendation.
Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Status: Open
Comments: On October 24, 2018, FCC announced the appointment of 19 Tribal members and eight FCC members to the FCC's renewed Native Nations Communications Task Force. The Task Force, according to FCC's website, "will help the Commission fulfill its commitment to increase access to broadband and other communications infrastructure deployment and services on Tribal lands." According to FCC officials, FCC has tasked the Native Nations Communications Task Force with helping evaluate the effectiveness of the tribal engagement obligation, and expects the task force to provide FCC with its findings and recommendations by Spring 2020. FCC has yet to provide documentation to GAO to satisfy this recommendation.
GAO-17-785, Sep 29, 2017
Phone: (202) 512-2834
Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Status: Open
Comments: As of January 2020, FCC officials said they are taking steps to implement this recommendation and hope to do so by October 2020.