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      Recent Reports
    Broadband Deployment: Agencies Should Take Steps to Better Meet Deadline for Processing Permits
    GAO-24-106157
      Published: Apr 10, 2024
      Publicly Released: Apr 10, 2024
          Spectrum IT Modernization: Incorporating Leading Practices Could Improve Planning EffortGAO-24-106634
      
	Published:  Mar 19, 2024


	Publicly Released: Mar 19, 2024
          Broadband Infrastructure: Middle-Mile Grant Program Lacked Timely Performance Goals and Targeted MeasuresGAO-24-106131
      
	Published:  Oct 19, 2023


	Publicly Released: Oct 19, 2023
          Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program: Feedback Should Be Provided to Applicants Receiving Equitable Distribution GrantsGAO-23-106824
      
	Published:  Aug 24, 2023


	Publicly Released: Aug 24, 2023
          Emergency Alerts: NOAA Should Take Additional Actions to Help Ensure Tsunami Alerts Reach Those at RiskGAO-23-105961
      
	Published:  May 16, 2023


	Publicly Released: May 16, 2023
          Broadband: A National Strategy Needed to Coordinate Fragmented, Overlapping Federal ProgramsGAO-23-106818
      
	Published:  May 10, 2023


	Publicly Released: May 10, 2023
    
    

  
  View More ReportsOpen Recommendations
        Broadband Deployment: Agencies Should Take Steps to Better Meet Deadline for Processing PermitsGAO-24-106157
      
						Apr 10, 2024
              Show
          6Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusBureau of Land Management
                                                                                        The Director of BLM should develop controls to ensure BLM data are sufficiently accurate and complete to track processing times for all communications use applications. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Forest Service
                                                                                        The Chief of the Forest Service should develop controls to ensure Forest Service data are sufficiently accurate and complete to track processing times for all communications use applications. (Recommendation 2)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Bureau of Land Management
                                                                                        The Director of BLM should continue to analyze the factors that contribute to delays in processing communications use applications as they occur and take actions to address those factors. (Recommendation 3)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Forest Service
                                                                                        The Chief of the Forest Service should continue to analyze the factors that contribute to delays in processing communications use applications as they occur, as well as the efficacy of the actions the agency has taken to address those factors, and take additional actions as necessary. (Recommendation 4)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Bureau of Land Management
                                                                                        The Director of BLM should establish a method to alert staff to communications use applications at risk of exceeding the 270-day deadline. (Recommendation 5)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Forest Service
                                                                                        The Chief of the Forest Service should establish a method to alert staff to communications use applications at risk of exceeding the 270-day deadline. (Recommendation 6)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
          Spectrum IT Modernization: Incorporating Leading Practices Could Improve Planning EffortGAO-24-106634
      
						Mar 19, 2024
              Show
          4Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusNational Telecommunications and Information Administration
                                                                                        The Office of Spectrum Management should develop a high-quality reliable cost estimate that aligns with cost estimating best practices as defined in GAO's Cost Guide and Agile Guide for the IT modernization project. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                        Open
NTIA concurred with this recommendation. As of March 2024, NTIA stated that it is in the process of completing a cost estimate in accordance with GAO cost estimating best practices and developing performance measures for the IT modernization project.National Telecommunications and Information Administration
                                                                                        The Office of Spectrum Management should develop a reliable integrated master schedule that aligns with scheduling best practices as defined in GAO's Schedule Assessment Guide and Agile Guide for the IT modernization project. (Recommendation 2)
                                                                                        Open
NTIA concurred with this recommendation. As of March 2024, NTIA stated that it had developed an overall plan for the project and would establish an integrated master schedule after it awards a contract for the IT modernization project.National Telecommunications and Information Administration
                                                                                        The Office of Spectrum Management should finalize its stakeholder management plan. The plan should document a regular meeting schedule for the IT modernization project to ensure covered agencies have the ability to request information and communicate on NTIA's IT modernization project. (Recommendation 3)
                                                                                        Open
NTIA concurred with this recommendation. As of March 2024, NTIA provided a stakeholder management plan that, according to officials, addresses this recommendation. We are assessing the plan to determine whether it implements this recommendation.National Telecommunications and Information Administration
                                                                                        The Office of Spectrum Management should develop performance measures for the IT modernization project that clearly link with the project's established goals and have specified targets and time frames. (Recommendation 4)
                                                                                        Open
NTIA concurred with this recommendation. As of March 2024, NTIA stated that it is in the process of completing a cost estimate in accordance with GAO cost estimating best practices and developing performance measures for the IT modernization project.
          Broadband Infrastructure: Middle-Mile Grant Program Lacked Timely Performance Goals and Targeted MeasuresGAO-24-106131
      
						Oct 19, 2023
              Show
          2Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusNational Telecommunications and Information Administration
                                                                                        The Administrator of NTIA should develop performance measures for the middle-mile grant program that align with key attributes of successful performance measures, including ensuring that measures clearly link with stated program goals and have specified targets. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.National Telecommunications and Information Administration
                                                                                        The Administrator of NTIA should establish a process to ensure NTIA develops performance goals and measures that align with leading practices for its grant programs during program planning and design and to ensure it includes these goals and measures as part of its future notices of funding opportunities. (Recommendation 2)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
          Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program: Feedback Should Be Provided to Applicants Receiving Equitable Distribution GrantsGAO-23-106824
      
						Aug 24, 2023
              Show
          1Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusNational Telecommunications and Information Administration
                                                                                        The Administrator of NTIA should provide applicants that receive equitable distribution grants in the first round of TBCP with constructive feedback—by providing debriefings or technical assistance—to help these applicants improve their applications for the second round of TBCP funding. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
    
    

  
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GAO Contacts
    
      Carol C. Harris
      
              Carol C. Harris
            
            Director
      
            harriscc@gao.gov
      
            (202) 512-4456
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              Andrew Von Ah
            
            Director
      
            VonAha@gao.gov
      
            (213) 830-1011
                                                      MultimediaWhat is 5G? A GAO Science and Technology Explainer
      
        
        What is 5G? A GAO Science and Technology Explainer
          Tuesday, March 17, 2020Transcript
Podcasts
    
      Workforce Gaps May Slow Broadband and 5G Expansion
    Thursday, December 15, 2022
      
            Transcript
          Why Do Some Communities Still Lack Broadband?
    Friday, October 30, 2020
      
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          5G Development and Deployment
    Monday, June 29, 2020
      
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              INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC:  Wireless outages, 2009-2016
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            INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC:  Wireless outages, 2009-2016
      
          Thursday, December 14, 2017
Illustration showing how Tsunamis occur and turn into big waves
          Blog Post
              Will You Be Warned If There’s A Tsunami? More Can Be Done to Ensure The Public Receives Alerts
            Thursday, May 25, 2023
      
            When you hear the word “tsunami,” you may first think about a disaster movie, or the international...
          Photo showing a wifi router in the foreground and a woman at a laptop typing in the background
          Blog Post
              Closing the Digital Divide for the Millions of Americans without Broadband
            Wednesday, February 1, 2023
      
            Broadband is critical to everyday activities like work, school, and health care. Yet, despite the...
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