Fraud in Broadband Subsidy Sign-Ups Alarms FCC Watchdog (1)

Households are fraudulently signing up for a broadband subsidy by falsely claiming they include kids who qualify for free or reduced lunch, according to a memorandum from the Federal Communications Commission Office of Inspector General.

There have been “improper and abusive” enrollments with sales agents signing up households who do not include children who attend a school that operates with a free or reduced lunch system, the inspector general’s Nov. 22 memorandum states.

Households with children who qualify for free and reduced lunch can automatically sign up for FCC broadband benefits. The Emergency Broadband Benefit program was originally worth $3.2 ...