GAO Suggests Process Improvements for RUS Rural Broadband Programs
The Rural Utilities Service follows or partially follows leading practices while managing rural broadband grant and loan programs, GAO said in a Thursday report. The office gave RUS high marks for application review procedures, external training and communication, an informative…
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website, the agency’s field representatives and coordination with other federal agencies. RUS has high-level goal and performance metrics for measuring benefits of broadband loans and grants, but they’re not specific to each program, the report said. RUS does risk assessment at the application and project level, but not at the program- or high-level, it said. RUS doesn’t have mapping information, but it’s something the agency is trying to improve, GAO said. RUS monitors projects, but stops when they’re completed, “and is therefore missing information that could be used to improve the selection of grant recipients or the results of grant awards,” GAO said. RUS is organized in a way supporting internal communication, but doesn’t have a centralized system to track loan and grant data. That’s in the works, but the end date is unknown, the report said. RUS usually has external written documentation for recipients, but internal documentation is often outdated, the office said. “GAO recommends that RUS develop program performance goals and measures, conduct program risk assessments, evaluate completed grant projects, establish a timeline for implementing a centralized internal data system, and update written policies and procedures for RUS staff,” the office said. The Agriculture Department agreed with the recommendations, GAO said.