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FCC RIN: 3060-AI85 Publication ID: Spring 2015 
Title: Rural Health Care Support Mechanism; FCC 06-144 (WC Docket No. 02-60)  
Abstract:

On December 12, 2013, the Commission established the Healthcare Connect Fund, which will fund 65 percent of the cost of broadband services or facilities used for health care purposes by eligible public and not-for-profit health care providers. The Healthcare Connect Fund also permits HCPs to receive support for constructing and owning broadband infrastructure. Support will be available for existing pilot projects starting July 1, 2013. Starting January 1, 2014, support will be available for new consortia and individual HCP participants. On July 9, 2012, the Commission released an Order maintaining support on a limited, interim, fiscally responsible basis for specific rural Health Care Pilot Program (Pilot Program) participants that have exhausted their funding this year or will exhaust such funding during funding year 2012. On February 27, 2012, the Wireline Competition Bureau released a Public Notice seeking comment on whether to fund Rural Health Care Pilot Program (Pilot Program) participants who will exhaust funding allocated to them before or during funding year 2012 (July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013). The Commission has established a Pilot Program under the Universal Service Fund rural health care mechanism, which will fund up to 85 percent of the cost of building statewide and regional broadband networks connecting not-for-profit and public health care providers, and connecting these networks to Internet 2 or National Lambda Rail, as well as to the public Internet. In November 2007, the Commission selected 69 entities (now 50 due to mergers and withdrawals) to participate in the Pilot Program. In February 2010, the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau extended by one year, to June 30, 2011, the deadline for participants to select a vendor and request funding commitments under the Pilot Program. In May 2011, the Wireline Competition Bureau extended by one year, until June 30, 2012, the deadline for participants to select a vendor and request funding commitments under the Pilot Program. The Bureau also extended by one year the invoice deadline for Pilot Program participants. On July 15, 2010, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on reforms to the Universal Service health care support mechanism consistent with the recommendations set forth in the National Broadband Plan to expand the reach and use of broadband connectivity for and by public and nonprofit health care providers. On July 9, 2012, the Wireline Competition Bureau issued a Public Notice seeking additional comment on these issues.

 
Agency: Federal Communications Commission(FCC)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Long-Term Actions 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 47 CFR 54   
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 254(h)    47 U.S.C. 151    47 U.S.C. 154(i)    47 U.S.C. 201 to 205    47 U.S.C. 214    47 U.S.C. 403   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
Order  11/08/2006  71 FR 65517   
Order on Reconsideration  02/06/2007 
Order  02/14/2008  73 FR 8670   
Order (Release Date)  02/18/2010    
NPRM  08/09/2010  75 FR 48236   
Order (Release Date)  05/03/2011 
Public Notice  03/09/2012  77 FR 14364   
Order  07/18/2012  77 FR 42185   
Public Notice  07/26/2012  77 FR 43773   
Order  03/02/2013  78 FR 13936   
Next Action Undetermined  To Be Determined    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Information URL: www.fcc.gov/cgb/rural/rhcp.html  
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Radhika Karmarkar
Chief, IAD, Media Bureau
Federal Communications Commission
45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554
Phone:202 418-1523
Email: radhika.karmarkar@fcc.gov