The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has requested the following information be distributed to all awardees, employees and contractors in relation to reporting fraud, waste, and abuse of funds made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
ARRA funds have provided an unprecedented opportunity to save jobs and advance the availability of broadband infrastructure in this country. With this opportunity comes increased responsibility to mitigate the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse.
The NTIA, including the Office of Inspector General (OIG), works to ensure that stimulus dollars reach intended recipients and serve intended purposes. FRBA will also work with the NTIA to ensure that these funds and programs funded by the NTIA are protected from fraud, waste, and abuse. As part of this important effort, FRBA is providing this information to assist anyone wishing to report possible fraud, waste or abuse of ARRA funds.
The OIG identifies and investigates individuals and groups who may have committed fraud with ARRA funds. Examples of allegations that should be reported to the OIG Hotline include: Misuse, embezzlement or theft of government property or funds; contract or procurement fraud; contractor misconduct; passport and visa malfeasance; fraud, waste and mismanagement of operations; employee misconduct, such as misuse of official position; bribes or unauthorized acceptance of gifts; conflicts of interest and other ethical violations.
Please help us put a stop to these crimes. In addition to reading and distributing this information, please report any suspicion of fraud, waste, or abuse to the OIG Hotline.
OIG Hotline Number: 1-800-424-5197
The OIG Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Online Hotline:
Additional information can be found at the OIG Online Hotline page: http://www.oig.doc.gov/Pages/Hotline.aspx
You may also submit your report using the OIG's Online Complaint Form at: http://www.oig.doc.gov/Pages/online-hotline-complaint-form.aspx
Email Reporting:
hotline@oig.doc.gov
By Mail:
Office of Inspector General
Complaint Intake Unit, Mail Stop 7886
1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20230
Or Fax:
202-482-2803
Your report can be made anonymously or in confidence.
In addition to protections from reprisal under the Whistleblower Protection Act and other law, ARRA provides remedies for grantee/contractor employees who are retaliated against for making certain disclosures involving the expenditure of ARRA funds. Any person retaliated against for making disclosures related to ARRA funds should contact the OIG Hotline.