Media Contact: 
Sharon Diskin, (202) 418-0470
Sharon.Diskin@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC INSPECTOR GENERAL ISSUES ADVISORY REGARDING EBB ENROLLMENT FRAUD
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WASHINGTON, November 22, 2021 – In an Advisory issued today, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Federal Communications Commission alerted EBB providers, beneficiaries, and the public to improper and abusive EBB program enrollments made in connection with the USDA National School Lunch Program’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).      

Providers’ sales agents are enrolling households in the EBB program by falsely claiming the household includes a dependent child who attends a CEP school.  The Advisory provides examples where the number of EBB households enrolled based on CEP school participation vastly outnumber the students actually enrolled in those schools.  OIG reminds all EBB providers that they are required to implement policies and procedures for ensuring their EBB households are eligible for program support and they will be held liable for their agents’ rule violations.   

OIG notes that as of today, USAC has implemented some controls in response to concerns we shared with the Commission regarding this ongoing fraud. 
      
Inspector General David L. Hunt said, “Our office is committed to using every tool at our disposal to fight fraud, waste, and abuse in the EBB program.  Advisories such as this play an important role in alerting program stakeholders that we will scrutinize carefully compliance with all program rules to identify and deter fraudulent practices.”      

The Advisory is available at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-378076A1.pdf.

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Office of Inspector General: (202) 418-0473/ Email: Hotline@fcc.gov
https://www.fcc.gov/inspector-general

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).