For our final report on our audit of First Responder Network Authority’s (FirstNet Authority’s) process for identifying, developing, and selecting reinvestment opportunities to construct, maintain, operate, and improve the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network, our audit objective was to determine whether FirstNet Authority's process for reinvesting fee payments is effective and consistent with established practices, procedures, and regulations. We found that FirstNet Authority: I. did not conduct a needs analysis; II. did not conduct an analysis of alternatives or sufficiently justify the need in the business case analysis; and III. relied on information from AT&T that appeared to influence the process of identifying and selecting reinvestment opportunities.
Report File
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
Department of Commerce OIG
Other Participating OIGs
Department of Commerce OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
Department of Commerce
Components
First Responder Network Authority
Report Number
OIG-23-005-A
Report Description
Report Type
Audit
Agency Wide
Yes
Number of Recommendations
9
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$296,299,098
Open Recommendations
This report has 1 open recommendations.
| Recommendation Number | Significant Recommendation | Recommended Questioned Costs | Recommended Funds for Better Use | Additional Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Yes | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator direct FirstNet Authority's Chief Executive Officer to develop, implement, and execute sufficient policies and procedures to identify, select, manage, and oversee the selection of the investment opportunities to address performance gaps of the network and stakeholder needs so that the $296,299,098 in potential monetary benefits can be used more efficiently. | |||||
