Gov performance

Universal Service Administrative Company Wants to Automate Verification Process

The Univeral Service Administrative Company (USAC) is seeking to gather information from US-based companies that have an established record of accomplishment of cost-effectively automating manual, repetitive, and rule-based processes using Robotic Process Automations (RPAs). This Request for Information (RFI) describes the information being requested and provides instructions on how to respond. Proposals are due no later than Aug 28, 2020 at 2:00 PM ET.

FCC Launches National Lifeline Verifier in Puerto Rico

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announces the launch of the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) for all new enrollments in Puerto Rico. Starting on June 23, 2020, eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in Puerto Rico will be required to use the National Verifier’s eligibility determination process for all consumers applying for Lifeline service and must cease using legacy eligibility processes for prospective Lifeline subscribers. As of June 23, 2020, consumers in Puerto Rico can begin to check their eligibility for Lifeline se

Executive Order on Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery

It is the policy of the United States to combat the economic consequences of COVID-19 with the same vigor and resourcefulness with which the fight against COVID-19 itself has been waged.  Agencies should address this economic emergency by rescinding, modifying, waiving, or providing exemptions from regulations and other requirements that may inhibit economic recovery, consistent with applicable law and with protection of the public health and safety, with national and homeland security, and with budgetary priorities and operational feasibility.  They should also give businesses, especially

FCC-Nevada Lifeline Eligibility Computer Matching Program

The Federal Communications Commission and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) have established computer matching program with the State of Nevada, Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS). The purpose of this matching program is to verify the eligibility of applicants to and subscribers of the Lifeline program. Written comments are due on or before June 12, 2020.

FCC Ordered To Disclose Data About Net Neutrality Commenters

Siding with The New York Times, a federal judge has ordered that the Federal Communications Commission must disclose information about users who submitted comments during the 2017 net neutrality proceeding, despite the agency's objections that doing so could compromise people's privacy. US District Court Judge Lorna Schofield in the Southern District of New York ruled that disclosure of the data -- including commenters' IP addresses, time stamps, and user-agent headers -- is in the public interest, particularly given concerns that many comments were fraudulent.

House Commerce Committee Chairman Pallone Statement on GAO Report Confirming Failures During FCC's Net Neutrality Repeal

House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) unveiled a report recommending that the Federal Communications Commission take aggressive action to enhance the cybersecurity of its Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) and other information systems: “I requested this report because it was clear, after the net neutrality repeal comment period debacle, that the FCC’s cybersecurity practices had failed.

FCC Made Significant Progress, but Needs to Address Remaining Control Deficiencies and Improve Its Program

The Federal Communications Commission uses the Electronic Comment Filing System to receive public comments about proposed regulation changes. In May 2017, a surge of more than 22 million comments disrupted the system making it unavailable. We issued a Sept 2019 report with 136 recommendations for improvements in this and other FCC systems. The report was not publically released because it contains security information. This is the public version of that report—with the sensitive information removed.

Chairman Pai Remarks on Regulation in Times of Pandemics

In many ways, we’re still building the plane while flying it. Recognizing that it’s hard to say anything definitive only a few weeks into a fluid situation, I’d like to walk you through the FCC’s guiding principles as we’ve approached this challenge.

Congress struggles to get tech savvy, adjust to life during a pandemic

Rank-and-file lawmakers in both chambers insist the day to day operations of Congress — hearings, markups, press conferences, caucus meetings — should continue in some form while the House and Senate remain out for weeks in order to prevent the spread of the virus on Capitol Hill. But congressional leaders have staunchly resisted modern technology that could allow members to vote remotely.

2020 Census, starring the internet

April 1 marked the Census Bureau’s biggest push yet to get Americans to participate in the once-in-a-decade count. The outcome will not only determine communities' representation in Congress but will also have far-reaching implications for funding for schools, hospitals, emergency services and other institutions that have been central to the war on Covid-19. And thank God for the internet. Luckily, this is the first time Americans can respond by mail, phone or online — and the agency expects a surge in participation thanks to the latter.