Oversight of the broadband stimulus programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: hearing before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, first session, October 27, 2009.

Oversight of the broadband stimulus programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: hearing before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, first session, October 27, 2009.

"Access to affordable broadband service is seen as vital to economic growth and improved quality of life. To extend broadband access and adoption, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) provided $7.2 billion to the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) for grants or loans to a variety of program applicants. The agencies are awarding funds in two rounds and must obligate all funds by September 30, 2010.This report addresses the results of the first broadband stimulus funding round, the extent to which NTIA's and RUS's application reviews substantiated application information, the challenges facing NTIA and RUS in awarding the remaining funds, and actions taken to oversee grant and loan recipients. GAO analyzed program documentation, reviewed a judgmentally-selected sample of applications from first round award recipients, and interviewed agency officials and industry stakeholders. "