Thirty-Fifth Quarterly Status Report to Congress Regarding BTOP

As of September 30, 2017, only two BTOP infrastructure projects remained in active status: Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System Authority (LA-RICS) and the Executive Office of the State of Mississippi (Mississippi). All remaining projects completed their project activities. NTIA continues to protect taxpayer investments by proactively engaging with these grant recipients to monitor project activities and grant compliance. Each quarter, the active BTOP recipients also report their financial and project performance. NTIA analyzes these reports closely to monitor progress and compliance. The Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a new audit report this quarter, Strengthening Grant Administration and Financial Controls Will Improve Management of the LA-RICS BTOP Grant (October 16, 2017). NTIA is working with LA-RICS to resolve the audit findings. The OIG also released a copy of an investigative report in June, Investigative Report on Alleged NTIA Opportunities Program Grant (June 15, 2017) involving the agency’s award to the Executive Office of West Virginia.