GAO Recommends FCC and NTIA Improve Broadband Deployment Programs to Better Target Underserved Areas and Ensure Sustainability
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, GAO-26-107725, has evaluated federal broadband deployment programs, highlighting the progress of four key agencies: the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and the Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and the Treasury. Since 2020, these agencies have administered significant federal funding, including over $50 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to expand broadband access in unserved and underserved areas. The report notes that all nine reviewed programs have begun distributing funding, with varying timelines for project completion. For instance, NTIA's Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP) and Treasury's Capital Projects Fund (CPF) expect most projects to conclude in 2026 and 2027, while NTIA's Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program subrecipients have projected completion dates extending to 2030 and beyond. The GAO identified challenges in targeti... 
