GAO: Federal broadband efforts fragmented and overlapping

Sun Jun 5 05:00:06 UTC 2022

U.S. Government Accountability Office

Broadband:
National Strategy Needed to Guide Federal Efforts to Reduce Digital Divide
GAO-22-104611
Published: May 31, 2022. Publicly Released: May 31, 2022.

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-104611

In its efforts to expand broadband access, the federal government has 
subsidized investment in rural areas that haven't attracted private 
investment. We identified over 100 federal programs—administered by 15 
agencies—that could be used to expand access.

However, the number of programs has led to a fragmented, overlapping 
patchwork of funding. We recommended synchronizing federal efforts with a 
national broadband strategy, and more.
[...]

Recommendations

GAO is making three recommendations, including (1) that NTIA identify key 
statutory limitations to program alignment and develop legislative 
proposals as appropriate, and (2) that the Executive Office of the 
President develop and implement a national broadband strategy. NTIA agreed 
with our recommendations. The Executive Office of the President did not 
take a position on our recommendation.