releases: https://web.archive.org/web/20141027225018/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-free-government-cell-phone-program-needs-criminal-investigators
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://web.archive.org/web/20141027225018/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-free-government-cell-phone-program-needs-criminal-investigators | Vitter: Free Government Cell Phone Program Needs Criminal Investigators | 2014-10-24 | 2014 | 2014-10 | Republican | House | LA | David Vitter | V000127 | web.archive.org | legacy | Vitter: Free Government Cell Phone Program Needs Criminal Investigators Friday, October 24, 2014 (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today urged for more oversight of the controversial free government cell phone program known as Lifeline. In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, Tom Wheeler, who administers the program, Vitter questioned why they won’t allow the hiring of criminal investigators. “The free government cell phone program is one of the most abused and fraud-ridden federal programs ever,” said Vitter. “It’s alarming that the federal agency in charge won’t allow criminal investigators to be hired. That needs to change, and the FCC needs to be much more aggressive in tackling the fraud and abuse.” Recent testimony by the FCC’s Inspector General David Hunt before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology indicated that the FCC Chairman has denied their request to hire criminal investigators. The Lifeline Program was created in 1984 to expand landline services for low-income households through the Universal Service Fund (USF). The program supporting mobile phones was expanded in 2008 to include wireless service provider and has grown from $143 million in 2008 to nearly $2 billion. Vitter has introduced legislation to eliminate the welfare subsidy for mobile phone service in the Lifeline Program and restore the program to its original intent of providing landline service. Below is the text of Vitter’s letter. October 24, 2014 The Honorable Tom Wheeler Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street SW Washington, DC 20554 Chairman Wheeler: The recent testimony by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Inspector General David Hunt before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology regarding your decision to hamper investigations is alarming. According to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), you have denied them authority to hire criminal investigators. That needs an immediate explanation. Considering the highly publicized fraud that permeates the FCC, especially within the highly controversial Universal Service Fund (USF) Lifeline program, it makes absolutely no sense to me why you would deny Mr. Hunt’s request to hire criminal investigators. The Lifeline program is one of the most abused and fraud-ridden federal programs ever, and it is our responsibility to work together to eliminate the fraud and abuse. Mr. Hunt’s testimony revealed major cause for concern regarding your efforts to eradicate the fraud within Lifeline and USF programs. In July 2014, you created a “strike force,” and I commend that effort. However, given the massive amount of documented fraud within the Lifeline program, the “strike force” should coordinate with law enforcement and the OIG. It is obvious that you are not using all of the tools at your disposal or even making basic decisions that would allow the “strike force” to eradicate any findings of fraud and prevent cases of future fraud from happening. While you might claim that the FCC is taking action to address escalating fraud within Lifeline through implementing the “strike force,” it is clear that your efforts are neither effective nor comprehensive. It has been two years since the initial push to curb fraud and abuse within Lifeline, but reports keep coming about new, massive cases of fraud. Far more needs to be done. For instance, a recent Washington Examiner report determined that nearly double the number of eligible subscribers have received taxpayer subsidized cell phones from Lifeline in Maryland. The enforcement of the program rules and regulations has not been a priority of the FCC, and that must change immediately. Without enforcement of Lifeline’s eligibility rules, fraud will continue to haunt this taxpayer subsidized welfare program for years to come. At a minimum, you should absolutely allow the OIG to hire criminal investigators. I hope you will reconsider your denial, and start working aggressively to identify waste, fraud and abuse so we can end it. Sincerely, David Vitter U.S. Senator -30- Press Contact (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today urged for more oversight of the controversial free government cell phone program known as Lifeline. In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, Tom Wheeler, who administers the program, Vitter questioned why they won’t allow the hiring of criminal investigators. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |