NTIA Established the Innovation Fund Program but Needs a Plan to Ensure That the Program Meets Statutory Objectives

View Report

Title Full

Date Issued

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Submitting OIG

Department of Commerce OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Department of Commerce

Components

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Report Number

OIG-25-017-I

Report Description

Our evaluation’s objective was to assess NTIA’s implementation of the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund program. We determined the steps NTIA took to award and disburse program funds, the challenges NTIA faced while implementing the program, and the status of awards and disbursements.

We found that although NTIA has taken steps to mitigate some challenges it faced when implementing the Innovation Fund program, it would benefit from developing a comprehensive strategic plan that would ensure the program’s success. We found that NTIA did not have a sufficient strategy for anticipating emerging industry challenges, had not fully developed program goals and strategic objectives that align with the program’s statutory objectives, and did not develop a comprehensive staffing plan before it began awarding grants.

The lack of an adequate strategic plan limits NTIA’s ability to effectively measure the program’s performance and mitigate future challenges. With over $853 million in grant funds left to award, issues may continue to arise if NTIA does not improve its program planning.

Report Type

Inspection / Evaluation

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Report updated under NDAA 5274

External Link

https://www.oig.doc.gov/reports/?entry=29747

Open Recommendations

This report has 6 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
1.	Yes	$0	$0
1. We recommend that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator update and finalize the industry engagement plan to define regularly scheduled opportunities to meet with the technology industry and other stakeholders.
2.	Yes	$0	$0
2. We recommend that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator incorporate all known program challenges into the risk assessment and design a comprehensive mitigation plan to address these risks in accordance with departmental requirements.
3.	Yes	$0	$0
3. We recommend that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator develop a programmatic plan that includes how the Innovation Fund’s statutory objectives will be met and how program performance will be measured.
4.	Yes	$0	$0
4. We recommend that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator ensure that program goals addressing each of the statutory objectives have specified targets that align with key attributes of successful performance measures to determine the success of the program.
5.	Yes	$0	$0
5. We recommend that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator update and implement a comprehensive staffing plan that includes setting strategic direction; conducting workforce analysis; and developing, implementing, and monitoring the workforce action plan to meet the program’s workforce needs.
6.	Yes	$0	$0
6. We recommend that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator following the implementation of the staffing plan (described in recommendation 5) and at regular intervals, reassess the staffing plan to ensure that the program office has the personnel needed to monitor and oversee grant recipient performance.