Taxpayer Watchdog Releases “Government Broadband Consultants – The Big Grift” Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kara Zupkus (224) 456-0257

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) released the long-awaited “Government Broadband Consultants – The Big Grift” report.

With billions of federal and local taxpayer dollars being used for building high- speed internet infrastructure, broadband consulting is quickly becoming big business and a big grift. Nowhere does this grift manifest more obviously than in the proliferation of taxpayer-funded local government-owned networks (GONs).

As TPA has pointed out in its recent reports “GON with the Wind: The Failed Promise of Government Owned Networks Across the Country” and “GON with the Wind II: Frankly, Taxpayers Do Care,” consultants on municipal broadband projects have the answer before local governments even ask the question whether or not to build a GON.

TPA President David Williams offered the following comment about the report’s release:

“Despite often being touted as a silver-bullet solution to connect Americans to the internet in underserved areas, GONs have consistently failed to fulfill their promises. GONs have historically struggled to attract consumers, with a take rate below 40 percent. Despite their historic underperformance, the federal government has continuously poured taxpayer dollars, spending more than $413 billion in funding. Consultants have jumped on this gravy train and fleeced taxpayers for millions of dollars. Federal and local officials need to put a stop to this grift.”

Read the full report here.

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Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis and dissemination of information on the government’s effects on the economy.