Audit Information

To safeguard the USF from potential program violations, all beneficiaries and service providers receiving these monies are subject to potential audit and those that receive more than $1 million will automatically be audited by the Administrator to ensure the funds are used for their intended purposes. All eligible telecommunications carriers, service providers, or beneficiaries requesting support under these temporary rules shall be subject to audit or investigation by the FCC’s Office of Inspector General (“OIG”), or other authorized federal or state governmental agency and, upon request, must make available any documentation and records necessary to verify compliance with these rules. Audits will seek to ensure, among other things, that an ETC has not obtained double recovery for a single household. 

All ETCs should retain records that can be used to validate their support claims in the event of an audit, data validation, or other investigation.  ETCs should maintain all necessary documentation to verify that the support was used for the intended purpose of assisting victims of Hurricane Katrina.  For example, archiving data electronically and maintaining these files will assure a more efficient audit.  Also, properly label all files and documents used to complete forms.  If using multiple internally produced reports to complete forms submitted, maintaining a reconciling schedule would also ensure a more efficient audit.  ETCs claiming Hurricane Katrina Lifeline and Link Up support should also retain customer certifications.