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OMB Control No: 3060-0804	ICR Reference No: 200804-3060-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200712-3060-001
Agency/Subagency: FCC	Agency Tracking No: WCB
Title: Universal Service - Rural Health Care Program/Rural Health Care Pilot Program
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 01/22/2008
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 04/28/2008
	Date Received in OIRA: 04/02/2008
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	07/31/2008	07/31/2008	07/31/2008
Responses	59,464	0	59,464
Time Burden (Hours)	68,420	0	68,420
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Abstract: In 1997, the Commission established the Rural Health Care support mechanism, which provides universal servcie support to ensure that rural health care providers pay no more than their urban counterparts for their telecommunications needs and Internet access in the provision of health care services. In resposne to underutilization of the current program, the Commission established a Pilot Program and selected 69 participants. The Pilot Program assits public and non-profit helath care providers build state and region-wide broadband networks dedicated to health care.

Emergency Justfication: A 2004 Executive Order called for the development and implementation of a national interoperable health information technology infrastructure. A key element of this plan is the National Health Information Network (NHIN). Pursuant to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC adopted the current Rural Health Care (RHC) support mechanism, which provides universal service support to ensure that RHC providers pay no more than their urban counterparts for their telecommunications needs in the provision of health care services. Despite the FCC s efforts to increase the utility of the RHC support mechanism, the program has yet to fully achieve the benefits intended by the statute and the FCC. In response to the need for broadband facilities to support telehealth services in rural America, which imperils execution of the Presidents 2004 Executive Order, on Nov. 19, 2007, the FCC issued the 2007 Pilot Program Selection Order. This Order selected 69 participants for the universal service RHC Pilot Program, which was originally established by the FCC in September 2006. The 69 participants represent 42 states and 3 U.S. territories and will be eligible for approximately $417 million in universal service support over three funding commitment years. Among other things, selected participants will be eligible for funding to support up to 85% of the costs associated with the construction of state or regional broadband health care networks, the advanced telecommunications and information services provided over those networks, and of the costs of connecting to Internet2, National LambdaRail, or the public internet. In an effort to facilitate inter-agency awareness and to identify areas for possible collaboration and shared expertise for the Pilot Program, the FCC has coordinated with HHS. In light of the importance of the advancement of a health information technology infrastructure to the public interest, the FCC has sought to implement the Pilot Program within an aggressive timeframe. Doing so is crucial given the consumer and public safety benefits of deploying broadband infrastructure necessary to support innovative telehealth and, in particular, telemedicine services to those areas of the country where the need for those benefits is most acute. Timely construction of broadband networks allows patients in rural areas to access critically needed medical specialists in variety of practices, including cardiology, pediatrics, and radiology, without traveling long distances. The need for timely implementation of the Pilot Program is also evidenced in the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, P.L. 109-417, § 202 (2006), codified at 42 U.S.C. § 247d-4(f)(1)(B), in which Congress recognized the FCC s pilot program as a first step for health care networks that will be expanded in the future. The 2007 Pilot Program Selection Order, also provides funding to enable broadband networks to further the goals of the NHIN initiative by requiring selected participants, where feasible, to provide access to HHS and CDC instances of public health emergencies and to use their funding in a manner consistent HHSs health information technology initiatives. OMB emergency approval is vital to timely implementation of the critical networks to advance telemedicine to rural areas and to enhance the health care communitys ability to provide a rapid and coordinated response in the event of a public health crisis. Otherwise, the start of deployment proposed by selected Pilot Program participants will be further delayed. Use of normal clearance procedures likely would stall the development of health information technology networks and further delay the NHIN initiatives discussed in the 2007 Pilot Program Selection Order.

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 47 USC 403
   US Code: 47 USC 151
   US Code: 47 USC 154(i) - 154(j)
   US Code: 47 USC 201 - 205
   US Code: 47 USC 214
   US Code: 47 USC 254

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: PL: Pub.L. 109 - 417 202 Name of Law: Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

Federal Register Notices & Comments
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	72 FR 69216	12/07/2007
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Universal Service - Health Care Providers Universal Service Program	FCC Form 467, FCC Form 465, FCC Form 466, FCC Form 466-A	, , ,

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved
Annual Number of Responses	59,464	59,464
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	68,420	68,420
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The increased information collections are a result of participation in the Rural Health Care Pilot Program. Specifically, the Rural Health Care Pilot Program Selection Order: (1) increases the number of respondents who will file Form 465, 466, 466-A, and 467; (2) adds new information collection requirements; and (3) makes other modifications as specifically noted.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Jennifer Prime 2024182403

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