Hutchison: Oversight of broadband funding in Democratic stimulus bill inadequate

(Media-Newswire.com) - WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison ( R-Texas ), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, said today that broadband funding oversight was inadequate during a hearing on the future of broadband service in the United States.

“Current broadband oversight plans appear to be inadequate,” said Senator Hutchison. “I had significant concerns during the Stimulus debate about moving too quickly to deploy public funds before the FCC completes its report on a national broadband plan, and before completing national broadband mapping efforts. Grants must be awarded to areas that are substantially underserved or completely lack infrastructure, and we must ensure that projects are completed on time, within their budgets, and without waste, fraud and abuse. The agencies charged with administering these programs have not convinced me that they have an adequate plan or sufficient staff to provide post-grant oversight of these projects through their completion...”