US Senate report says spending on consultants for internet subsidy program tops $200 million annually

WASHINGTON, Oct 13 (Reuters) – A US Senate committee report released ​on Tuesday ‌said consultants who assist schools and libraries in winning funding from ‌a $3 ​billion annual ⁠internet subsidy program ⁠receive between $200 million and $400 million annually.

Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted ​Cruz said consultants help the ⁠applicants for ⁠the Federal Communications ​Commission E-Rate program “comply ​with a Byzantine process that ‌has become a costly feature of the program.”

He ⁠added that the high fees should “prompt greater scrutiny of ⁠how ‌E-Rate funds ⁠move, who benefits ​and ‌whether the program’s ​current structure ⁠delivers value to schools, libraries and taxpayers.”

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark ​Porter)