Program Integrity

PQA Program

The Payment Quality Assurance (PQA) Program allows USAC to provide the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with information about improper payments to program beneficiaries, as required by the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (IPIA) and the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 (IPERA). Under this program, USAC assesses specific payments made to select beneficiaries in all four support mechanisms to determine if these payments were made in accordance with FCC rules. Using results of these assessments, USAC calculates estimates of improper payment rates and provides this information to the FCC. 

When selected, PQA participants receive a letter by email from USAC. This letter will specify the payment under assessment, instructions about what information and documents to gather, and how to submit these materials. In some cases, USAC will use audit follow-up procedures defined by the Office of Management and Budget to recover funds that are identified as improper payments.

Pursuant to FCC rules, participation in the PQA Program is compulsory for any universal service beneficiaries selected for assessment.

For more information about PQA assessments, click below:

• High Cost Program PQA assessments
• Lifeline Program PQA assessments
• Rural Health Care Program PQA assessments
• Schools and Libraries Program PQA assessments
• Payment Quality Assurance Program FAQs