Report on the Performance Audit over High-Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) Portal Data

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Date Issued

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Submitting OIG

Federal Communications Commission OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Federal Communications Commission

Report Number

24-AUD-04-02

Report Description

Report on the Performance Audit over High-Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) Portal Data

Report Type

Audit

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

$7,833,000

Funds for Better Use

Report updated under NDAA 5274

External Link

https://www.fcc.gov/inspector-general/reports-publications/audits

Open Recommendations

This report has 9 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
1	No	$0	$0
FCC should establish a review process, which includes analytics, over replacement samples that identifies and adds additional scrutiny to carriers who request a significant amount of replacement samples. This should include defining what levels of replacements FCC considers significant.
2	No	$0	$0
FCC and USAC should implement a process to verify or validate the speed and latency data submitted by the carrier within the PMM system. This can include sampling and/or analytics and targeted audits over carrier submissions.
3	No	$0	$0
FCC should ensure that USAC complies with the requirements of the PMM order and/or issue an amendment to the current orders clarifying how deferred latency tests should be addressed when they make up a significant portion of the sample testing results. This should include defining the maximum tests allowed to be deferred when determining compliance. The amendment should also include other procedures performed by the carrier or USAC to determine that the carrier’s network is compliant with the conditions set forth within the applicable program.
4	No	$0	$0
FCC should enforce the minimum speed test duration to ensure the results obtained are accurate and representative of the carriers’ network and in compliance with minimum speed requirements.
5	No	$7,833,000	$0
FCC should direct USAC to develop and implement procedures to determine if the issues noted in the condition warrant adjustments to the carrier’s withholdings and/or payments previously made. Further, USAC should determine if any of the payments made to these carriers would be considered an improper payment requiring recovery.
6	No	$0	$0
FCC should improve and continue to perform cost benefit analyses to determine a proper level of effort to monitor the HCMF; specifically, identifying higher-risk areas and implementing additional sampling, analytics, and other methods to ensure the carrier compliance status for the enrolled program is reasonably supported.
7	No	$0	$0
Direct USAC to modify testing procedures for verification reviews to ensure that the deployment date tested by the Verification Team is reflective of the date entered and certified in HUBB by the carrier and supported by appropriate evidence.
8	No	$0	$0
Direct USAC to develop and implement procedures that identify possible erroneous deployment dates and document whether a change to past-compliance statuses is warranted. Further, USAC should determine if any of the payments made to these carriers would be considered an improper payment.
9	No	$0	$0
Direct USAC to modify testing procedures for verification reviews to ensure that carriers are offering the speeds per the corresponding program requirements for minimum speeds. Examples of testing procedures include reviewing stronger evidence, such as an engineer certification or actual network speed testing results performed by a third party or through collaboration with USAC’s engineers.