The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s use and enforcement of buildout requirements. The report: (1) describes the buildout requirements the FCC has established for wireless services; (2) assesses the extent to which the FCC follows its process to enforce those requirements; and (3) examines stakeholder opinions on the extent to which commonly cited goals of buildout requirements have been met. To research the report, GAO staff reviewed FCC regulations and guidance on buildout requirements and examined FCC license data on outcomes of buildout requirements. GAO also interviewed FCC officials, commercial spectrum licensees, industry associations, and spectrum policy experts. The report only reports on GAO’s findings; it does not include any recommendations.
