GAO to Review FCC Lifeline Verifier, House Commerce Democrats Say

GAO accepted a 2018 request by then-House Communications Subcommittee member Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois and seven other Commerce Committee Democrats to review FCC work to deploy its national verifier program to determine consumer eligibility for Lifeline funds, Commerce said. Now-House Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey and now-Communications Chairman Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania were among the Democrats seeking the probe (see 1801230075). GAO said in a scoping document accompanying a letter also released Wednesday it plans to “review FCC planning documentation, including the Verifier plans, cost-benefit analyses, training and consumer outreach documents, and implementation guidelines. We also plan to obtain information” from “other federal agencies that own relevant data to the Verifier; state government officials responsible for overseeing Lifeline or coordinating with FCC,” Lifeline providers and “consumer advocates and representatives of front-line organizations that work with lifeline-eligible populations.” GAO plans “a survey of public utility and social services officials" to understand how” Universal Service Administrative Co. “is working with them to implement the Verifier, including the extent to which FCC has established data sharing agreements with states.” The office plans to interview providers. The auditor “will analyze data on the Verifier’s performance." GAO plans “to complete our work and send a draft” to the FCC for comment this fall. The commission didn’t comment.