By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-15-22
Saying some fraud has already been uncovered, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, wants an investigation into whether billions of dollars in broadband subsidy spending already handed out went “appropriately” to unserved areas and areas economically affected by the pandemic.
Wicker is concerned the money could be used to overbuild existing providers while doing little to close the digital divide.
The CARES Act, which included COVID 19 relief-related broadband subsidies, also created the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) to try to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, which are always a potential problem in any large government subsidy. » Read More